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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham had strong words for those who question Caitlin Clark's impact on the WNBA. On the first episode of her new podcast *Show Me Something*, co-hosted with Bravo star West Wilson, Cunningham spoke out against those who claim Clark is not the face of the league.
"It literally pisses me off when people say she's not the face of the league," said Cunningham. "We have a lot of badasses in our league, and I'm all for that, but if you're arguing that she's not the face or that the league would be where it is without her, you're dumb. You're literally dumb as f---."
Cunningham, who joined the Fever this season, said she has seen firsthand how other players in the league treat Clark more harshly because of her rising popularity. Reflecting on her time with the Phoenix Mercury, she said, "Even when I wasn't on her team, I remember the locker room talks. We were like, 'We're going to show her what the W really is.'"
Cunningham admitted that some level of hazing is expected for any rookie, but the intensity Clark faces is unmatched. "There's just more for her," she said. "It's her second year, and now being her teammate and seeing it, I'm like, 'What are people doing?' It's too much. If I'm saying it's too much, then it's probably too much."
Clark has generally downplayed claims that she's being targeted by other players, attributing aggressive play and minor injuries, like a poked eye, to the competitiveness of the league.
In July, Clark was voted the ninth-best guard in the WNBA in a poll conducted among players. Sports broadcaster Dick Vitale criticized the ranking, calling it a result of jealousy. "Absolutely pure jealousy," Vitale wrote. "Someday they'll realize what she has done for all of the players in the WNBA."
Cunningham's defense of Clark adds to the ongoing conversation about how rising stars are treated in the league and whether they are given the recognition they deserve for their impact on the game.
