The Indiana Fever’s most recent campaign was a masterclass in resilience that left the rest of the league taking notes about the future of this franchise. Despite missing their cornerstone, Caitlin Clark, for the vast majority of the season, the Fever ground their way into the semifinals and pushed the eventual champions Las Vegas Aces to a full five-game limit series.
For Clark, watching from the sidelines had to be a bittersweet experience; she saw a roster that was just one piece away from its first Finals appearance since 2015, yet knew she was that missing piece. The run was even more impressive when you consider the “walking wounded” status of the locker room, with key contributors like Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham also sidelined during the most critical stretch of the playoffs.
Brand Wars on Instagram Between Clark and Cunningham
Before she even stepped onto a professional court, Caitlin Clark signed a staggering eight-year, $28 million signature sneaker deal with Nike, the largest sponsorship ever for a female hooper. But while the contract is historic, the execution has left a lot to be desired, and Sophie Cunningham wasn’t afraid to poke that bear.
On Thursday, Cunningham posted a shot of her new Adidas Adistar Control 5s, claiming they were “everyone’s favorite shoes.” When Clark jumped into the comments to deadpan, “I promise you they aren’t my favorite,” Cunningham delivered the knockout blow: “I promise you we get better treated at adidas .”
The exchange was lighthearted, but it hit a very real nerve in the basketball world. There is a growing narrative among fans and media that Nike has “mishandled” a generational talent by taking far too long to actually put a Clark signature shoe on shelves.
When teammates like Aliyah Boston, another high-profile Adidas athlete, joined in to back Cunningham, it highlighted a clear divide. While Clark has the massive contract, her peers in the Three Stripes family are enjoying a level of attention and product delivery that Nike has yet to match for their $28 million investment.
Sophie Cunningham and the “Project B” Era
As Cunningham enters free agency, she isn’t just looking at WNBA offers; she is positioning herself as a major player in the evolving landscape of women’s sports. Her next big move involves her participation in the highly anticipated “Project B” league.
This new venture is designed to give top-tier players a high-octane platform during the traditional off-season, offering better pay and more creative control over their personal brands.
For Cunningham, “Project B” is the perfect stage to showcase her blend of “enforcer” defense and elite perimeter shooting. As she weighs her options for the 2026 WNBA season, her involvement in “Project B” ensures that her value remains sky-high, proving that in today’s game, the players are finally the ones holding all the leverage.
Read the full article here
