Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham came to Caitlin Clark’s defense earlier this season in a physical game against the Connecticut Sun, and she defended the second-year superstar off the court, too. In response to the debate over who is the face of the WNBA, Cunningham had a sharp message for those who offer a name other than Clark: “You’re literally dumb as f—.”
Clark has been on the shelf numerous times already this season with a string of injuries, and the ailments seemingly limited her when she was on the floor. Held to just 13 games thus far, Clark is averaging nearly three points fewer per game this season than she did in her rookie campaign and is a significantly less effective shooter.
Disappointing season aside, Cunningham says that the WNBA still revolves around Clark.
“It literally pisses me off when people are like, ‘She’s not the face of the league.’ What?” Cunningham said on her new podcast. “There’s really good, well-known people in our league. I’m not discrediting them. We have a lot of badasses in our league. Hell yeah to that. I’m all for that. But when people try to argue that she’s not the face of our league or our league would be where we’re at without her, you’re dumb as s—. You’re literally dumb as f—.”
As Caitlin Clark remains sidelined, Aliyah Boston explains how opponents have adjusted to Fever’s offense
Brad Crawford
One of the WNBA’s worst-kept secrets is the disdain some of the league’s veterans hold toward Clark. The transcendent star from Iowa, who in many ways redefined women’s college basketball and is a key force behind the WNBA’s surge in viewership, has been on the receiving end of hard fouls throughout her young career.
One of those incidents came earlier this year when Sun guard Marina Mabrey shoved Clark and received a technical foul, which the league later upgraded to a Flagrant 2. Jacy Sheldon hit Clark in the face on a steal attempt, and when Clark shoved Sheldon and turned her back, Mabrey entered the scuffle and pushed Clark to the ground.
“You have seen players in our league try to toughen up Caitlin,” said Cunningham. “Even when I wasn’t on her team. I know the talks Phoenix had in their locker room of, like, ‘We’re gonna show her what the W really is.’ I get it to a certain extent. 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. Now being on her team and seeing it, I’m like, ‘What are people doing?’ It’s just too much. I’m over it.”
The numbers do not lie when it comes to Clark’s impact on the WNBA’s exposure. Earlier this season, the Fever and Sky broke a 25-year viewership record when 2.7 million fans watched Clark square off against college rival Angel Reese.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Jerry Jones Selling Cowboys as Better Without Micah Parsons, But No One’s Buying It
<!--> [--> Ralph Vacchiano NFL Reporter <!--> --> Earlier this week, when rumors started flying that Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys might be headed for a divorce, nobody around the NFL seemed to believe it would actually happen."C’mon," one NFL executive texted me that night, "even Jerry Jones isn’t that crazy."Well …In a stunning, head-scratching, and NFC-rocking moment, the 82-year-old Jones showed just how crazy he is, shipping off his best defensive player to the conference-rival Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. And then, with a straight face and his fingers not crossed behind his back, he actually said he did it because he believes it gives the Cowboys "a better chance to be a better team" right now than they’ve been with Parsons — especially if they manage to reach […]
Casagrande indica Cruzeiro com meio-campo acima da média no Brasileirão: “Uma das melhores duplas de volantes”
Lucas Silva em campo pelo Cruzeiro - Foto: Gustavo Aleixo/CruzeiroO Cruzeiro tem tido uma ótima temporada em 2025, está na disputa das quarta de final da Copa do Brasil e na terceira colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, além de jogar um futebol bonito, envolvente e muito organizado. De acordo com o ex-jogador Walter Casagrande, o segredo para esse desempenho está no meio de campo, mais especificadamente na dupla de volantes formada por Lucas Silva e Lucas Romero. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEEm participação no programa “UOL New Esporte”, do Canal UOL, o comentarista esportivo destacou a dupla de meio-campistas da Raposa e apontou que a qualidade dos dois no passe para os companheiros é fundamental para a engrenagem da equipe celeste, pois dá agilidade na criação das jogadas e deixa os meias e atacantes mais próximos do gol adversário.“O Cruzeiro tem uma das melhores […]
Ruling Court dies after contracting laminitis
Ruling Court, winner of the 2,000 Guineas earlier in the season, has been euthanised following complications due to laminitis, Godolphin have announced.Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Justify colt formed one half of a memorable Guineas weekend for Moulton Paddocks in May, as he saw off top-class rival Field of Gold to scoop Classic honours 24 hours before stablemate Desert Flower repeated the dose in the 1000 Guineas.A tilt at the Derby was scuppered by soft ground on the day at Epsom, but Ruling Court went on to finish third in both the St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and a high-class renewal of the Coral-Eclipse - a run which would be the final outing of a six-race career that also saw him win the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at Meydan in March.Appleby told www.godolphin.com: "Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened […]
Norris sets blistering Zandvoort practice pace in dramatic F1 return
Lando Norris put down a marker in a dramatic first practice at the Dutch Grand Prix as Max Verstappen beached his Red Bull after the session at Zandvoort.Norris trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by just nine points in the standings after winning three of the last four races prior to the summer break and continued where he left off in the last round in Hungary. The British driver set a blistering 1:10.278 to beat Piastri by 0.292s with the McLaren duo a long way ahead of the field on Formula 1's return.Norris, who dominated last year's Dutch Grand Prix, and immediately looked happy with the car's balance as the whole field were keen to complete as many laps as possible on the mediums and softs, given heavy rain is forecast for second practice later on Friday at 3pm UK time, […]
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech prediction, odds: Model reveals top free college football picks for Week 1 on Friday
Getty Images The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will visit the Colorado Buffaloes for a 2025 college football Week 1 showdown on Friday night. Georgia Tech ended its 2024 season 7-6 overall and a disappointing 1-4 on the road, but it will be confident heading into Week 1 with some veteran starters returning this year. The Buffaloes impressed in their first season in the Big 12 with a 9-4 finish, but must now move on without stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.Kickoff from Folsom Field in Boulder is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Yellow Jackets are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Georgia Tech vs. Colorado odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 51.5. Before making any Colorado vs. Georgia Tech picks, make sure you check out the picks from the SportsLine projection model. […]
Ceni crava Luciano Juba, do Bahia, futuro convocado por Ancelotti na seleção brasileira: “Escuta o que estou falando”
Luciano Juba festeja gol em Bahia x Fluminense - Fotos: Letícia Martins/EC BahiaJean Lucas e Luciano Juba foram elogiados por Rogério Ceni após o triunfo do Bahia por 1 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, na Fonte Nova, pelo jogo de ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. Convocado para a seleção brasileira, o meio-campista teve participação fundamental no lance que originou o gol do Tricolor marcado pelo camisa 46. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEAlém disso, o treinador do Esquadrão aproveitou para exaltar a evolução do lateral-esquerdo que foi contratado, inicialmente, como um atacante. Em sua visão, é questão de tempo para que Carlo Ancelotti lhe dê uma oportunidade de vestir a amarelinha.“Menino fantástico, com talento, passe, construção. Talvez o jogador que mais cresceu desde nossa chegada, quando ele jogava aberto. Juba tem feito essa função com maestria, ora por dentro, ora […]
Related
Jerry Jones Selling Cowboys as Better Without Micah Parsons, But No One’s Buying It
<!--> [--> Ralph Vacchiano NFL Reporter <!--> --> Earlier this week, when rumors started flying that Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys might be headed for a divorce, nobody around the NFL seemed to believe it would actually happen."C’mon," one NFL executive texted me that night, "even Jerry Jones isn’t that crazy."Well …In a stunning, head-scratching, and NFC-rocking moment, the 82-year-old Jones showed just how crazy he is, shipping off his best defensive player to the conference-rival Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. And then, with a straight face and his fingers not crossed behind his back, he actually said he did it because he believes it gives the Cowboys "a better chance to be a better team" right now than they’ve been with Parsons — especially if they manage to reach […]
Casagrande indica Cruzeiro com meio-campo acima da média no Brasileirão: “Uma das melhores duplas de volantes”
Lucas Silva em campo pelo Cruzeiro - Foto: Gustavo Aleixo/CruzeiroO Cruzeiro tem tido uma ótima temporada em 2025, está na disputa das quarta de final da Copa do Brasil e na terceira colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, além de jogar um futebol bonito, envolvente e muito organizado. De acordo com o ex-jogador Walter Casagrande, o segredo para esse desempenho está no meio de campo, mais especificadamente na dupla de volantes formada por Lucas Silva e Lucas Romero. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEEm participação no programa “UOL New Esporte”, do Canal UOL, o comentarista esportivo destacou a dupla de meio-campistas da Raposa e apontou que a qualidade dos dois no passe para os companheiros é fundamental para a engrenagem da equipe celeste, pois dá agilidade na criação das jogadas e deixa os meias e atacantes mais próximos do gol adversário.“O Cruzeiro tem uma das melhores […]
Ruling Court dies after contracting laminitis
Ruling Court, winner of the 2,000 Guineas earlier in the season, has been euthanised following complications due to laminitis, Godolphin have announced.Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Justify colt formed one half of a memorable Guineas weekend for Moulton Paddocks in May, as he saw off top-class rival Field of Gold to scoop Classic honours 24 hours before stablemate Desert Flower repeated the dose in the 1000 Guineas.A tilt at the Derby was scuppered by soft ground on the day at Epsom, but Ruling Court went on to finish third in both the St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and a high-class renewal of the Coral-Eclipse - a run which would be the final outing of a six-race career that also saw him win the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at Meydan in March.Appleby told www.godolphin.com: "Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened […]
Norris sets blistering Zandvoort practice pace in dramatic F1 return
Lando Norris put down a marker in a dramatic first practice at the Dutch Grand Prix as Max Verstappen beached his Red Bull after the session at Zandvoort.Norris trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by just nine points in the standings after winning three of the last four races prior to the summer break and continued where he left off in the last round in Hungary. The British driver set a blistering 1:10.278 to beat Piastri by 0.292s with the McLaren duo a long way ahead of the field on Formula 1's return.Norris, who dominated last year's Dutch Grand Prix, and immediately looked happy with the car's balance as the whole field were keen to complete as many laps as possible on the mediums and softs, given heavy rain is forecast for second practice later on Friday at 3pm UK time, […]
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech prediction, odds: Model reveals top free college football picks for Week 1 on Friday
Getty Images The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will visit the Colorado Buffaloes for a 2025 college football Week 1 showdown on Friday night. Georgia Tech ended its 2024 season 7-6 overall and a disappointing 1-4 on the road, but it will be confident heading into Week 1 with some veteran starters returning this year. The Buffaloes impressed in their first season in the Big 12 with a 9-4 finish, but must now move on without stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.Kickoff from Folsom Field in Boulder is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Yellow Jackets are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Georgia Tech vs. Colorado odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 51.5. Before making any Colorado vs. Georgia Tech picks, make sure you check out the picks from the SportsLine projection model. […]
Ceni crava Luciano Juba, do Bahia, futuro convocado por Ancelotti na seleção brasileira: “Escuta o que estou falando”
Luciano Juba festeja gol em Bahia x Fluminense - Fotos: Letícia Martins/EC BahiaJean Lucas e Luciano Juba foram elogiados por Rogério Ceni após o triunfo do Bahia por 1 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, na Fonte Nova, pelo jogo de ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. Convocado para a seleção brasileira, o meio-campista teve participação fundamental no lance que originou o gol do Tricolor marcado pelo camisa 46. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEAlém disso, o treinador do Esquadrão aproveitou para exaltar a evolução do lateral-esquerdo que foi contratado, inicialmente, como um atacante. Em sua visão, é questão de tempo para que Carlo Ancelotti lhe dê uma oportunidade de vestir a amarelinha.“Menino fantástico, com talento, passe, construção. Talvez o jogador que mais cresceu desde nossa chegada, quando ele jogava aberto. Juba tem feito essa função com maestria, ora por dentro, ora […]
Be the first to leave a comment