Sophie Cunningham thinks the WNBA's physicality against Caitlin Clark is 'too much'

USA Today

30-07-2025

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said she thinks the physicality other WNBA players show teammate Caitlin Clark is "too much," her new podcast revealed on Wednesday.
Cunningham teamed up with reality television star West Wilson for the first episode of Show Me Something, a new podcast featuring the two good friends and Missouri natives.
Before telling her side of the story in the now-infamous dust-up she had with Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon in June, Cunningham defended Clark even further against her alleged treatment across the league.
"You have seen players in our league try to toughen up Caitlin," Cunningham told West on the show. "Even when I wasn't on her team, I know the talks that [the Phoenix Mercury] had in the locker room of, like... 'We're going to show her what the W really is.' You know what I mean? And, I get it to a certain extent, and every rookie coming into the league, that's how you're going to treat them. But there's just more for her.
"It's her second year, and now being on her team and seeing it, I'm like, 'What are people doing?' Actually... it's just too much, too much.... I'm over it, and if I'm saying it's too much, then it's probably too much."
Some NSFW language to follow.
Cunningham also partially blamed being hungry and tired for her skirmish with Sheldon, which she confirmed was retaliation for the scuffle earlier in the game between Clark and Sheldon that escalated. Clark was apparently appreciative for Cunningham sticking up for her.
"I think she was like, 'Finally!'," Cunningham told West about Clark's reaction after the game in the locker room, and Cunningham said the moment brought the team together in terms of having each other's backs.
While, sure, there's an inherent irony to Cunningham saying people are playing Clark too aggressively when she sparked a brouhaha with Sheldon in retaliation. However, the added physical play seems to be a league-wise issue and could be contributing to injuries like Clark's multiple ailments this season.
Cunningham doesn't seem all that bothered to speak her mind, so this podcast should give the world plenty of more unfiltered thoughts from one of the league's more vocal players on hot-button issues.