Sophie Cunningham Commended for Supporting Caitlin Clark Amid Fever-Sun Clash
WNBA fans praised Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham for standing up for Caitlin Clark during a contentious game against the Connecticut Sun. The incident, which occurred in a chippy atmosphere, saw Cunningham defend Clark with a hard foul on Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon, sparking a physical altercation. The game, which took place on Tuesday, saw a significant exchange between the players, culminating in Cunningham, Sheldon, and Sun guard Lindsay Allen being ejected from the game with about 40 seconds left.
Despite the chaos, the Fever managed to secure a 88-71 victory. The situation was further compounded by the earlier incident in which Sheldon had poked Clark in the eye during the third quarter. Sun guard Marina Mabrey also shoved Clark to the ground, contributing to the chippy affair. Cunningham was widely congratulated on social media for her actions, as she was seen as taking a stand for her teammate.
Fever head coach Stephanie White expressed frustration with the officiating, criticizing the inability of officials to take control of the game. White’s comments underscored the ongoing issue of referees failing to manage the intensity of the game, a problem she believes has persisted throughout the season. In a statement, White said,