Sophie Cunningham made it clear she is watching Caitlin Clark closely, cheering her on while subtly assigning her a new mission as the 23-year-old works back into form at USA Basketball camp with national team stakes looming.
Clark and Aliyah Boston are two of 17 players attending the USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp at Duke University, marking an important step toward future international competition.
While Clark and Boston are the only Indiana Fever players taking to the court, they are not the only members of the franchise present in Durham in North Carolina during the multi-day camp.
On Saturday, the pair were photographed alongside several Fever representatives, including two members of the team’s front office and head coach Stephanie White, with the latter serving as an assistant coach for Team USA.
“Family squad is reppin’ at @usabasketball training camp,” Indiana Fever captioned a photo of the group, signaling organizational pride in the moment which quickly went viral across social media.
Cunningham was among those reacting, keeping tabs on Clark‘s progress and offering encouragement that felt like both support and expectation.
“go get em girls,” Cunningham wrote, a short message that underscored her close attention to Clark‘s every move at camp.
The hope is that the pair can translate this camp experience into roster spots for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in September 2026. Clark, meanwhile, admitted the moment carried personal weight as she returned to competitive play after an extended absence due to injuries.
“I was a little nervous,” Clark said. “I haven’t been out here in a while. It’s certainly fun to lace them up and be in a competitive practice.
“Obviously, it’s a lot different. I’ve been working out and playing pickup, but to be in an environment like this [is different].
“I need to knock off a little bit of rust. My body feels really good. I feel like I’m in a good spot.
“My year was really challenging. I missed being on the court and playing. “I would have taken 10 bad games in a row just to be out there playing, that’s how much I love it.
“For me to be here and feel like I’m playing well and being healthy, that makes me smile more than anything.”
She showed flashes of her signature style, knocking down deep three-pointers and delivering crisp passes that created easy scoring chances.
Clark also held herself to a high standard, visibly frustrated after missed shots she expects to convert regularly.
This camp marks her first appearance with the senior national team after previous invitations during college did not align with her schedule.
Sophie Cunningham set for free agency blow?
While closely following Clark‘s journey, Cunningham faces uncertainty of her own as she approaches free agency with Indiana, leaving her future unsettled after a season that significantly boosted her profile and league-wide visibility.
That situation could shift because of the WNBA expansion draft, with Toronto and Portland set to build inaugural rosters and evaluate available talent across the league during a pivotal offseason window.
Each existing team can protect a limited number of players, but free agents cannot be shielded, leaving Cunningham exposed in the process despite her popularity and strong connection with the Fever fanbase.
ESPN‘s Kevin Pelton noted an expansion team could view Cunningham “as a core candidate,” a designation that would allow her to be selected and offered a lucrative one-year contract.
That core player designation remains controversial within the current CBA, which is nearing negotiations and could see several roster-building mechanisms altered or removed entirely. But for now, signs still point toward Cunningham entering free agency.
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