Caitlin Clark made it clear she would not overlook teammate Sophie Cunningham‘s antics ahead of the Indiana Fever‘s monumental semifinal matchup against the Las Vegas Aces.
The 2025 WNBA playoffs have already delivered drama, and this moment only added to the storyline as Clark arrived at the Aces‘ arena ahead of Game 1 of the best-of-five series in a relaxed outfit.
Casually walking through the tunnel as cameras flashed, the 23-year-old caught the eyes whilst her nearby teammate was busy trying to shy away from the media for a moment.
Eventually the 28-year-old hooper was pulled into the scene by Caitlin, who insisted on a joint tunnel arrival for the media as Sophie protested as Clark dragged her along, citing her injury.
“She forgets I have a broken leg,” Cunningham said, referencing the MCL tear that has sidelined her for the remainder of the season as her teammate hauled her away on their adventure.
The lighthearted but telling interaction highlighted both the competitive fire and the playful dynamic between the two Fever teammates. Yet, still, her reminder underscored a harsh reality for Indiana.
They entered the semifinal series without multiple key contributors as Clark herself has been battling a persistent groin injury that limited her to just 13 appearances this season whilst Cunningham nurses her own serious injury.
The 28-year-old’s absence, combined with Clark‘s compromised condition, has left Indiana shorthanded against a powerhouse opponent in the Las Vegas Aces – who have the reigning four-time MVP, A’ja Wilson.
Kelsey Mitchell stars for Fever in Game 1
The Fever‘s road to the semifinals was narrow, edging past the Atlanta Dream to secure their spot. Their next test, however, is considerably steeper in the form of the Aces, led by their newly crowned MVP.
Wilson has now won the award for the second time in a row and she and her team have been dominant, losing only once since early August as the 2023 WNBA champions show why they’re one of the best in the sport.
But despite Indiana‘s injuries, the team showed resilience in Game 1, stunning Las Vegas with an 89-73 victory as Kelsey Mitchell carried the load offensively, producing a playoff career-high of 34 points.
She connected on four of six attempts from beyond the arc, while also adding three assists and three steals to her stat line and Mitchell praised her teammates for staying focused under pressure, particularly during an early surge from Las Vegas.
“Our group was just, it was unbelievable,” Mitchell said. “At any given time, we can and we won’t [fold], so I’m proud of our group.”
For the Aces, the loss was a rare blemish. It marked just their second defeat in the last 20 contests and their heaviest playoff loss since the 2022 Finals.
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