Sophie Cunningham Addresses Misinterpretations Over Praise for Teammates

Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham responded to the misconceptions that emerged after her comments about her teammates Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. As the Fever enjoy a successful season, reaching the postseason, both Clark and Mitchell are in the midst of discussions for this season’s WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Cunningham had praised both players as potential MVP winners on her newly launched podcast last week, with trainer Drew Hanlan joining her.

On this week’s podcast, Hanlan explained that a clip from the previous episode gained attention online because it showed Cunningham praising Mitchell. Many believed Cunningham was diminishing Caitlin Clark, which caused backlash. “Yeah, I just think it’s crazy because I have two great, great players on my team, and I’m gonna hype both of them up,” Cunningham stated on the “No Hesitation” podcast. She emphasized her support for both players as potential MVPs and expressed frustration at how the internet can distort messages through selective editing.

Cunningham described the online reaction as “actually psychotic,” offering a glimpse into the media landscape surrounding the WNBA.

She responded to allegations of her lack of support for teammates Clark and Aliyah Boston during the FIBA World Cup Finals against France. Cunningham noted her engagement in a NASCAR promotion, precluding her from watching the match.

Having joined Clark and the Fever several seasons ago, the 30-year-old Cunningham has grown in popularity within the league. Known for her outspoken nature, she frequently shares her views on various topics.

Cunningham stated that a primary reason for starting her podcast with Hanlan was to counter erroneous narratives from the media and fans attempting to generate viral sensations.

While the MVP race continues, Clark and Mitchell feature in conversations, yet remain far from top contenders. Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson is a leading candidate to secure the award for an unprecedented fifth time, followed by Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles.

The Indiana Fever are set to continue their regular-season play with an upcoming game against the Toronto Tempo, scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.