Sophie Cunningham’s Viral Instagram Post After Defending Caitlin Clark
On June 17, 2025, the Indiana Fever secured an 88-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun in a game that was anything but ordinary. The matchup, held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, was marked by intense physicality and heated altercations, culminating in a near-brawl that saw three players ejected. At the center of the drama was Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who became an overnight sensation for her fierce defense of teammate Caitlin Clark. Hours after her ejection, Cunningham took to Instagram with a cryptic yet perfect message that sent fans into a frenzy.
The game’s tensions began simmering in the third quarter when Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Fever star Caitlin Clark in the eye during a play. Clark, known for her composure, reacted by shoving Sheldon, sparking a scuffle. Sun’s Marina Mabrey escalated the situation by shoving Clark to the ground, an act that drew technical fouls for Clark, Mabrey, and Sun center Tina Charles, while Sheldon received a Flagrant 1. Despite the Fever’s commanding lead, the physicality persisted, and many felt the referees failed to control the game.
With less than a minute remaining and the Fever up by 17 points, Cunningham took matters into her own hands. As Sheldon drove to the basket, Cunningham committed a hard foul, wrapping her arms around Sheldon’s neck and pulling her down. The play ignited a benches-clearing scuffle, with Sun’s Lindsay Allen rushing to defend Sheldon. After review, officials ejected Cunningham for a Flagrant 2 foul, alongside Sheldon and Allen for their roles in the altercation. Fever fans erupted in cheers, chanting “Sophie!” as she exited the court.
Postgame, Cunningham faced criticism from Sun coach Rachid Meziane, who called her foul “stupid” and “disrespectful,” arguing it was unnecessary given the score. However, Fever coach Stephanie White defended her player, stating, “When officials don’t get control of the ball game, this is what happens.” Cunningham herself doubled down, telling reporters, “I think the refs had a lot to do with that. It was a build-up for a couple years now of them just not protecting the star player of the WNBA. I’m going to protect my teammates.”
Hours after the game, Cunningham posted an Instagram Story that captured the moment perfectly: a photo of herself with arms outstretched, smiling confidently. Without a caption, the image spoke volumes, interpreted by fans as a bold, unapologetic response to her critics. Social media exploded, with posts on X praising her as “the hero the WNBA needs” and likening her to an “enforcer” for Clark. Her jersey sold out in the Fever team store, and her TikTok followers surged from 300,000 to over 1.2 million in days.
Cunningham’s actions and viral post have cemented her as a fan favorite. Traded to the Fever from the Phoenix Mercury in the offseason, the 28-year-old guard is no stranger to toughness, holding a black belt in Taekwondo earned at age six. Her fiery defense of Clark, coupled with her savvy social media presence, has sparked debates about officiating in the WNBA and the need to protect stars like Clark. As the Fever prepare to face the Sun again on July 15, all eyes will be on Cunningham, whose Instagram moment has defined her as Clark’s unwavering protector.
