Sophie Cunningham, a player for the Indiana Fever, holds nothing back when discussing Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA. Cunningham, known for her frankness, addresses the criticisms towards Clark and defends her role as a key figure in the league.
Cunningham: “It’s stupid to deny Clark’s impact”
Cunningham, in his new podcast “Show Me Something”, expressed his frustration with those who downplay Clark’s influence. “It bothers me when people say ‘She’s not the face of the league.’ What?”, Cunningham declared. “We have great players in our league, I’m not disparaging them. But to deny that Clark is a central figure is simply stupid.”The Fever player also shared her experience from last season, when Clark was a rookie and played against her. Cunningham revealed that the opposing team focused on showing Clark the toughness of the league. “I understand to some extent that mentality with rookies, but with Clark it’s different. She’s already in her second year, and seeing what’s happening makes me think: ‘What are they doing?’ It’s too much,” she commented. Cunningham has publicly defended Clark on the court, as in a recent incident against the Connecticut Sun. Despite the injuries that have limited Clark to 13 games this season, her impact on the league is undeniable. A matchup between Clark and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky drew 2.7 million viewers, becoming the most-watched WNBA game in 25 years. In addition, several teams have moved their games to larger arenas for matchups against Clark and the Fever. “This is what we’ve always wanted as a league, so it doesn’t matter who gets the credit. If you’re smart, you know you’re making money with it… Just be nice. Why can’t people be nice?” Cunningham concluded.It bothers me when people say ‘She’s not the face of the league’.
Sophie Cunningham
