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Sophie Cunningham drops defiant take on ‘enforcer’ label that helped launch Fever stardom appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Fever have been red hot on offense over the past two games. Indiana is one of the most popular teams in the WNBA, in large part due to Caitlin Clark’s star power. But Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has also gained a lot of popularity over the past year while playing alongside the W’s most recognized player.
ESPN’s Hallie Grossman published a lengthy piece on Cunningham on Tuesday. In that piece, Cunningham pushed back on the “enforcer” label that many fans have placed on her.
“I am not the enforcer,” Cunningham said, per Grossman. “I am not a bodyguard. I am just going to do whatever the team needs. And if my teammates need me to stick up for them, I will do that.”
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Cunningham picked up that label back in 2025 when she stood up for Caitlin Clark against the Sun. Cunningham committed an aggressive foul on Jacy Sheldon after multiple Sun players roughed up Clark throughout the contest. A brawl ensued that resulted in three ejections, including Cunningham’s. And a legend was born.
“And in part because Clark is who Clark is (the league’s most polarizing megastar), and Cunningham is who Cunningham is (the league’s most avid avenger), an end-of-game fight in a middle-of-the-season game became a thing. The thing,” Grossman wrote. “It’s still a thing a year later, when a finger point becomes its own cultural maelstrom. Now, Cunningham is a middle-of-the-pack player with leading-woman star power.”
Cunningham’s epic point at DeWanna Bonner earlier this season went absolutely viral, showcasing her incredible star power. Her meme was even used by The White House on social media.
While Cunningham may not have adopted her “enforcer” label, she has certainly embraced that role on the court. And Indiana is certainly better off for it.
Next up for the Fever is a home against the Sun. That game tips off at 8PM ET on July 22nd from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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Related: Fever’s Sophie Cunningham fires back at ‘MAGA Barbie’ moniker
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