Caitlin Clark Sends Heartfelt Message to Injured Fever Teammate Sophie Cunningham
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The Indiana Fever may just be one of, if not the unluckiest, team in the WNBA this season when it comes to injuries.
The Fever lost their third player in the last three weeks to a season-ending injury after announcing on Tuesday that guard Sophie Cunningham would miss the rest of the year after suffering a leg injury against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
Cunningham, who saw an increase in playing time after star guard Caitlin Clark went down with a right groin injury that's sidelined her for the last four weeks and the team lost both Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson to season-ending injuries back in early August, played just 10 minutes in Sunday's 99-93 overtime win over the Connecticut Sun before leaving in the second quarter with an apparent leg injury.
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While defending Sun guard Bria Hartley, Cunningham's leg was hit from behind by Hartley as she was falling to the ground. The Missouri alum immediately clutched her leg and fell to the court as she screamed in agony.
Sophie Cunningham #8 and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever cheer from the bench against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on June 07, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Sophie Cunningham #8 and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever cheer from the bench against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on June 07, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo byShe was helped to the back by the training staff and underwent further evaluation, and it was determined on Tuesday morning that she wouldn't play again this season.
Many well-wishes came pouring in on social media after the news was announced, and Clark immediately took to Instagram to send her sympathies to Cunningham, who many labeled as Clark's personal enforcer earlier this season.
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"Love you always soph @sophie_cham," Clark wrote on her Instagram story.
Cunningham had played in 30 of Indiana's 35 games this season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while playing 25.2 minutes per night.
Her injury is a devastating blow to the injury-ravaged Fever, and though there's still hope they can make a postseason run if Clark comes back in time for the playoffs, things look pretty bleak for Indiana, which has just four healthy guards — Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Odyssey Sims, and recently signed Shey Peddy.
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