Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will be joined by former Phoenix Mercury star Sophie Cunningham in the upcoming 2025 WNBA season. Cunningham was involved in a four-team trade that also involved the Dallas Wings and the Connecticut Sun.
The move was just one of several made by the Fever this offseason to build their roster around Clark after the team’s return to the playoff scene last year—their first time since 2016.
After the trade, Cunningham joked during her guest appearance on the “Sports & Shenanigans” podcast that she would be willing to “be the Sabrina Carpenter to Caitlin Clark’s Taylor Swift.” Her comment got the WNBA community buzzing, and members of the press asked her about the comparison during a media interview on Tuesday in Indiana.
“That was a joke but I guess people really took that seriously,” Cunningham said, laughing. “She (Clark) has changed our game in the best possible way. Just to be alongside of her and maybe relieve the pressure, being able to shoot and spread the court for her to go do her thing, she’s still young.”
The new member of the Fever roster added, “Diana (Taurasi) took me under her wing and I’ve learned a lot from her, and now I hope to kind of do the same thing for Caitlin if she wants it. … I want her to go do her thing and anything she needs from me, I’m gonna be here … I stick up for my teammates. I stick up for myself.”
Cunningham is fresh off a full 40-game season, averaging 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
Sophie Cunningham on playing with Caitlin Clark
“She has changed our game in the best possible way…I want her to go do her thing and anything she needs from me I’m gonna be here…I stick up for my teammates. I stick up for myself.” pic.twitter.com/mw7K5G10F6
— correlation (@nosyone4) March 11, 2025
Caitlin Clark to be joined by more veterans in the 2025 WNBA season
Aside from Sophie Cunningham, more veterans are set to join Caitlin Clark following the Indiana Fever’s roster moves this offseason.
DeWanna Bonner joined the Fever after parting ways with the Connecticut Sun this offseason. Natasha Howard, who was the fifth-overall pick of the Fever in the 2014 WNBA Draft, returns to the team after a decade. Sydney Colson, who recently parted ways with the Las Vegas Aces, also signed with the Fever for a one-year deal.
With these four big names added to the Fever roster, the franchise is optimistic that they can have another go at the playoffs and fare better than they did last year.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
