Apparel company Authmade has launched a new collaboration with the Indiana Fever, featuring Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham modeling exclusive merchandise. The campaign was supposed to highlight the team’s star power and bring fresh attention to the new collection. But instead of elevating Cunningham, the promotional post misidentified her entirely.
“Caitlin Clark and Cade Cunningham for Authmade’s @IndianaFever Collection. Now available exclusively @FeverTeamstore – while supplies last,” the original caption read.
The blunder was significant, as Cade Cunningham is a male NBA player for the Detroit Pistons, a completely unrelated figure. Not only did the error get posted by Authmade, but it was also shared by the official Fever Team Store, doubling down on the mistake. Fans immediately noticed, and the backlash was swift.
“Her name is Sophie,” one frustrated user wrote on X.
Another added: “You call Sophie Cunningham Cade. This was supposed to be an Indiana Fever collection and there is only Pacers merchandise. Also, who is paying $65 for a T-shirt? What an embarrassment.”
The mistake, and the lack of a public correction or apology, hit a nerve. In a season where the WNBA has drawn record attention and new fans, many felt the oversight reflected lingering neglect of the athletes driving that momentum.
A moment that should’ve celebrated Cunningham instead erased her
What makes this incident more jarring is just how visible Sophie Cunningham has become. With millions of followers and a growing fan base, she’s arguably one of the league’s most marketable stars. Her voice, personality, and play have all helped shape the Fever’s identity, something this promotion was clearly trying to capitalize on.
That’s why the misidentification stung so deeply. Cunningham, who has not commented publicly on the error, was quite literally the face of the campaign. And yet, her name was swapped with that of a male NBA player from a rival franchise. To fans, it wasn’t just an accident. It was symbolic of how often WNBA athletes are treated as afterthoughts, even in spaces meant to uplift them.
While this isn’t the Fever’s first partnership with Authmade, it is the first time a mistake of this magnitude has made it to the public. The silence from both the brand and the team store has only added to the frustration.
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