Big stars usually steal the spotlight in the WNBA, but for Kelsey Mitchell, the true unsung hero of the Indiana Fever has a different name.

The guard surprised everyone by pointing out that Sophie Cunningham is the team’s true “glue,” even ahead of high-profile players like Caitlin Clark or Lexie Hull.

Kelsey Mitchell highlights Cunningham’s role on the Fever

During Tuesday’s decisive 113-91 victory over the Toronto Tempo—the fourth consecutive win for Stephanie White’s team—Mitchell shone with 27 points, but Sophie wasn’t far behind, posting her best scoring performance of the season.

LeBron’s unexpected reaction to a glass of white wine goes viral

The 29-year-old veteran tallied 24 points, 6 rebounds, and two assists in 24 minutes of play. However, her impact isn’t felt only on the court.

After the game, the three-time WNBA All-Star was asked by USA Sports about the former Phoenix Mercury player’s role in Indiana. And Mitchell didn’t hold back her praise:

“Soph is like the glue stick to this team,” Mitchell said. “I think without her, we wouldn’t be where we are. Her energy, her effort, her ability to shoot the ball, it just opened up so many avenues for us.”

However, in addition to her stats and on-court contributions, Kelsey highlighted other aspects of Cunningham’s influence off the court:

“And as a friend, as a sister, Soph is one of the ones that she wants to look for a lot of stuff,” Mitchell continued. “And so hats off to her for making it worth it.”

Kelsey’s praise comes at a positive time for Indiana, which seems to have found a better collective version of itself thanks to the contributions of several players surrounding Clark, Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.

In that context, Cunningham has also become one of the emotional leaders in the locker room and a key figure in maintaining the team’s cohesion.

Since joining the Fever, the former Missouri player has earned a reputation for being an intense, vocal teammate who is always ready to support her teammates on the court. Currently, Cunningham is averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 13 games.

Now, the Indiana Fever (9-5) are preparing to face Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream this Thursday, June 18, at 7:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.