Caitlin Clark's newest teammate Sophie Cunningham has often expressed her interest in playing on the same team. Now, thanks to free agency and a three-team trade, she got her wish.
A major trade involving the Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever saw Cunningham and the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft land in Indianapolis. She is an experienced guard entering her seventh season.
Clark and Cunningham, although never having played together before, have become very familiar with one another. Cunningham was seen sitting court side when Phoenix hosted last year's All-Star game, cheering on Clark who was a participant in the game.
Cunningham also appeared in an interview on The Travis Hearn Podcast in October 2024, where she was asked about Clark's impact on women's basketball and how she thinks Clark has handled the pressure in her rookie season.
"She's handling the pressure very well. She has done a lot of great things for women's basketball and I'm a fan. I would love to play with her one day, for real," Cunningham said.
She even offered support in the midst of rumors spreading that other players in the league were targeting Clark, which she quickly shot down when asked about it.
"The narrative that we're all against Caitlin, or the vets against the rookies-- that needs to be squashed because it's not like that. I promise you, it's not like that," Cunningham said in an interview with SLAM Magazine back in July.
Sophie Cunningham on Caitlin Clark:
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 1, 2025
"I'm a fan like I would love to play with her one day, for real."
pic.twitter.com/EzcVJHLX4V
It is very clear that Cunningham admires Clark's approach to the game which is what will make watching them both play on the same team even more captivating. Each player brings their own style to the game, but their respect for one another will translate into positive on-court chemistry.
After being traded to the Fever, she took to social media where she posted an image of her and Clark on her Instagram story publicly displaying an immediate bond between the two.
The upcoming season for the Fever will have a lot of new spark with the addition of Cunningham.