During the Indiana Fever‘s victory over the Connecticut Sun on June 11, Sophie Cunningham found herself surrounded by controversy with an aggressive take down of Jacy Sheldon, leading to her being slammed as a dirty player – but how does she feel about that?
Known for her intense playing style, the 28-year-old guard drew national attention when she confronted her rival following a foul on the Fever’s Caitlin Clark, sparking backlash across social media.
Despite public outrage, including calls for Cunningham‘s removal from the league, this is far from unfamiliar territory for the seasoned player, who has had the “dirty player” label follow her for years.
It stretches back to her days in the NCAA with the Missouri Tigers, but Sophie remains unfazed by the criticism, attributing her actions to effort and loyalty, not malice.
“For me, I don’t listen to all that noise,” Cunningham told Slam Online. “I got that stuff in college, too.
“We beat South Carolina multiple years in a row and all of a sudden I’m the dirty player. And it’s like, ‘Nah, I’m just out working.’ I’m working y’all’s a*s, you know what I mean?
“I’ve been used to it but I just know that I have a very tight circle. I lean on them quite a bit…For me, I just want to be the best teammate.
“I wanna be the best competitor. I wanna do whatever it takes for my team to win and all that other noise can just be squashed.”
Her physical response to Sheldon, which has been interpreted by many as retaliation for the foul on Clark, has been viewed by others as a protective gesture, solidifying her image as a teammate willing to stand up for those around her.
Whilst the WNBA’s disciplinary action, including two fines, underscored the league’s stance on on-court conduct, Cunningham’s stance remains clear – she is focused on defending her team, not on appeasing critics.
Cunningham’s support for Clark rooted in respect
Cunningham’s aggressive defense of Caitlin Clark last week was not simply reactive, it was grounded in long-standing admiration of her Fever peer, who is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and five rebounds per game in 2025.
Sophie previously praised Clark’s composure and influence in the sport and they now share the floor as teammates, so the veteran guard is keen to protect her from those looking to aggressive take her pout of the game.
“I think that she’s a gem,” Cunningham said to the Travis Hearn podcast in October 2023. “I didn’t know her, but All-Star Weekend we kind of bantered back and forth a little bit. And she’s lovely.
“She has a lot of pressure on her shoulders. I think a lot of people always have a lot to say with people they don’t even know or shoes they’ve never been in.”
She added, “I think she’s doing a lot of great things for women’s basketball, and I’m a fan. Like I would love to play with her one day, for real.
“Caitlin Clark’s been killing it. I’m a huge fan, and I never say that. But I think it’s fun what she’s doing.”
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