Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham says she has to be Caitlin Clark’s bodyguard because the WNBA REFUSES to protect her

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In the wake of another bruising week for the Indiana Fever and their superstar rookie Caitlin Clark, veteran guard Sophie Cunningham is no longer holding back.

Following a highly physical game against the New York Liberty in which Clark was on the receiving end of multiple hard fouls — including one that sent her sprawling into the scorers’ table — Cunningham sounded off in the locker room, expressing frustration over what she sees as the league’s ongoing failure to protect its most marketable player.

“At this point, I’ve got no choice but to be her bodyguard,” Cunningham told reporters postgame. “If the league isn’t going to do it, somebody on this team has to.”

The remark, delivered without hesitation, lit up social media and drew strong reactions throughout the WNBA landscape, further amplifying the ongoing conversation around how Clark is being officiated — or not — by referees around the league.

Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA as the most hyped rookie in league history, bringing with her record-breaking college numbers, millions of new fans, and a ratings surge for the league. But since Day 1, her welcome to the professional game has been ruthlessly physical.

Clark has absorbed multiple flagrant fouls, off-ball shoves, hip checks, and post-whistle bumps in her first month and a half as a pro. While physical play is part of the WNBA’s culture — especially for rookies — what many around the league are questioning is whether Clark is being targeted unfairly.

“She’s not asking for special treatment,” Cunningham continued. “She’s asking to be protected like any other player would be if they were getting hit like that night after night.”

In Sunday’s game alone, Clark was fouled hard three times in the second half — none of which were reviewed for flagrant penalties — despite visible contact above the shoulders on at least one occasion.

After one particularly egregious hit, cameras showed Cunningham charging toward the player involved, barking back and stepping in front of Clark, who was picking herself up from the floor.

Cunningham, never one to shy away from confrontation, has taken on the role of enforcer for the Fever — willingly or not.

“It’s not just about basketball,” she said. “It’s about protecting your teammates. And right now, it feels like people out there want to humble Caitlin so bad, they’re willing to hurt her to do it.”

Her comments echo a growing sentiment among Clark’s supporters — that jealousy, resentment, and media attention have made Clark a lightning rod for both physicality and criticism.

Clark, for her part, has been measured in public, often brushing off questions about whether she feels she’s being targeted.

“It’s the pros. It’s physical,” Clark said postgame. “I know I’ve got to play through it, stay composed, and keep doing my job. That’s the only way I know.”

But even she seemed to appreciate Cunningham’s defense.

“Sophie’s got my back. Always has,” Clark added. “That means the world to me.”

The topic of how the WNBA handles star player protection is nothing new. Legends like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Candace Parker have all spoken at various times about inconsistent officiating and the line between physical play and reckless aggression.

But Cunningham’s comments have brought the discussion to a boil, particularly because of Clark’s cultural impact.

The WNBA has reaped the benefits of Clark’s arrival: record-breaking ticket sales, sellouts in nearly every arena, primetime broadcasts, and viral media moments. But now the question is being asked loudly:

“Is the league doing enough to protect its most valuable asset?”

ESPN’s Monica McNutt weighed in on SportsCenter:

“There’s a difference between earning your stripes and becoming a punching bag. Caitlin Clark is taking shots that would absolutely not be tolerated if they were happening to A’ja Wilson or Breanna Stewart.”

Perhaps most concerning to Fever fans is the lack of response from the officiating crews.

Several of the most physical fouls on Clark — including a flagrant shoulder-check earlier in the season and a recent two-handed shove in transition — were either called as common fouls or missed entirely.

Despite repeated postgame reviews and mounting evidence, the league has not upgraded most of those fouls, nor has it issued suspensions or fines related to hits on Clark — even while punishing others for less visible incidents.

“She’s not even asking for flagrant calls,” Cunningham said. “She just wants the same whistle. That’s not too much to ask.”

As expected, Cunningham’s comments have sparked a wave of reaction.

Some have praised her as a true teammate and leader:

“That’s what vets are supposed to do. You stand up for the rookies when nobody else will,” one Fever fan posted on X.

Others accused her of trying to stir drama:

“Caitlin needs to toughen up — it’s the league, not college anymore,” read one viral response.

Even some WNBA players have indirectly weighed in. One anonymous veteran told a reporter:

“You earn your space in this league. That’s how it’s always been. Caitlin’s good — real good — but she’s got to prove she can take it.”

Still, others believe the targeting has crossed a line.

“You don’t teach rookies a lesson by cheap-shotting them,” said former player Swin Cash. “That’s cowardly. The league needs to step in.”

As the noise grows louder, the WNBA faces a delicate balance: protect its players while also respecting the league’s long-standing culture of physical, no-nonsense basketball.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has not directly addressed the Clark physicality issue in recent interviews, but league insiders say internal discussions are ongoing, particularly around revisiting the criteria for flagrant fouls, replay reviews, and referee accountability.

Some proposals being floated include:

• Automatic flagrant reviews for any foul involving contact above the shoulders
• Suspension escalation for repeat offenders targeting specific players
• A dedicated officiating panel to monitor high-profile games involving rookies

For Indiana, the stakes are high. The Fever are finally relevant again. With Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and a gritty roster including Cunningham, the team is not only winning games — it’s drawing national attention.

But attention comes at a cost. And right now, that cost appears to be Clark’s health and safety.

Sophie Cunningham seems more than willing to pay that price — with fines, confrontations, or whatever else it takes.

“You don’t let your franchise player get beat up night after night,” Cunningham said. “If no one else will do something about it, I will.”

Sophie Cunningham’s fierce defense of Caitlin Clark isn’t just a viral moment. It’s a rallying cry, a challenge to the league, and a bold declaration that the Indiana Fever will not let their star be sacrificed for the sake of “earning respect.”

At some point, the WNBA will have to decide:

Does it want to celebrate Caitlin Clark — or sacrifice her?

Because if things continue the way they are, the most exciting rookie in league history might be bruised and broken before she ever has a chance to shine at full strength.

Until then, she’s got Sophie Cunningham — her bodyguard, her enforcer, her teammate — standing tall in the fire.