The silence in the WNBA has finally been shattered. For months, fans have watched rookie sensation Caitlin Clark take hit after hit—on the court and off—while league officials and fellow players looked away. Now, one veteran is refusing to stay quiet. Sophie Cunningham, a six-year WNBA pro and now Clark’s Indiana Fever teammate, has stepped into the spotlight, blasting the league for failing to protect its biggest new star and calling out the jealousy that’s threatening to tear women’s basketball apart.

“Enough is Enough”: Cunningham Calls Out the Bullies

It started as whispers in locker rooms, then angry rants in comment sections. Why was Caitlin Clark, the most-watched rookie in years, getting targeted with so much physical play and online hate? Why did it seem like the league’s own players were determined to humble her—rather than celebrate her arrival?

Cunningham, never one to mince words, finally said what fans have been thinking for months. “People are jealous of this new little wave,” she said on her podcast, Show Me Something. “This is what we’ve always wanted as a league. Who cares who gets the credit? If you’re smart, you’re making money off of them.”

Her message was simple: Clark’s star power is lifting the entire league. So why, she asked, are so many determined to tear her down?

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The stats are as eye-opening as the headlines. In her rookie season, Clark was the target of 20% of all flagrant fouls in the league—an astonishing number for any player, let alone a first-year pro. She’s already missed games with multiple injuries, including groin and quad strains, after playing four full seasons at Iowa without missing a single contest.

And it’s not just the physical toll. Clark has faced relentless criticism from media, fans, and even fellow players—many of whom downplay her impact or outright deny her status as the new face of the league.

Cunningham: “This Isn’t Just Rookie Hazing”

Every rookie gets tested, Cunningham admits. But what Clark is enduring is something else entirely. “I know the talks that Phoenix had in the locker room,” Cunningham revealed, referencing her time with the Mercury. “‘We’re going to show her what the W really is.’ But there’s just more for her.”

She’s seen it from both sides—first as an opponent, now as a teammate. And the verdict is clear: “It’s just too much. I’m over it. If I’m saying it’s too much, it’s too much.”

When the League Fails, Teammates Step Up

Cunningham hasn’t just talked the talk. She’s put her body on the line for Clark, absorbing fouls and throwing elbows in defense of her teammate. In a recent game, a hard foul sparked a melee—and turned Cunningham into an overnight hero for Fever fans. Her jersey sales exploded. Her TikTok following jumped by 600,000 in two days. Brands lined up for sponsorships. Cunningham, once a role player, is now a movement.

But the message is bigger than one viral moment. “If you mess with Caitlin, you deal with me,” she declared. Fans have responded in force, flooding social media with calls to “Protect Caitlin Clark.”

The Referee Problem

Cunningham is just as blunt when it comes to officiating. She’s called out WNBA referees for their inconsistency and failure to make obvious calls. “What are you doing?” she asked after a series of missed whistles left both Clark and herself battered. “If you’re on the other team and you’re going to be physical, cool. But let me do it to you. Just give us consistency.”

Her viral TikTok criticizing referees earned her a $500 fine—a move she mocked as “funny” given the league’s bigger problems. “There’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now?” she asked, her sarcasm sharp as ever.

The Jealousy Factor

Perhaps Cunningham’s most explosive claim is that jealousy is fueling much of the backlash against Clark. In the 2025 All-Star voting, Clark was the runaway fan favorite, leading all players in votes. Yet among guards, her fellow players barely ranked her in the top 10. Commentators like Dick Vitale have called it “pure jealousy,” and Cunningham doesn’t disagree.

Some players have made pointed remarks in interviews. Others have seemed to celebrate when Clark went down with injuries. But Cunningham argues that this bitterness is shortsighted. “Clark’s rise lifts everyone,” she says. “Bigger salaries, better flights, booming ratings, sold-out arenas. All of it is thanks to the Caitlin Clark effect.”

The Stakes: More Than Just One Player

Cunningham’s crusade isn’t just about Clark. It’s about the future of the WNBA. “You don’t burn down the golden goose that’s making your league relevant,” she warns. “You protect her at all costs.”

And the numbers back her up. Clark’s rookie trading card recently sold for $660,000—more than eight times her current salary. Her presence has turned every road game into a sellout, even when she’s not playing. The Fever’s ratings are through the roof. The league is finally on the national radar. But if the targeting and injuries continue, all of that could disappear.

Cunningham’s Stand: A Blueprint for Change

While most players keep their complaints behind closed doors, Cunningham is taking her fight public. She’s launched her own podcast, signed major endorsement deals, and become one of the most fouled players in the league—right up there with Clark and Aaliyah Boston. She’s showing that courage and common sense can be a winning combination, on and off the court.

And fans are responding. Cunningham’s follower count has soared past a million across TikTok and Instagram. She’s become a household name, not just for her play, but for her willingness to say what others won’t.

The League’s Crossroads

The WNBA now faces a choice: continue to ignore the problem, or finally protect its brightest star. Clark’s injuries are mounting. The targeting hasn’t stopped. The officials are still inconsistent. But thanks to Cunningham, the silence is gone.

As the league enters its most crucial stretch yet, one thing is clear: Sophie Cunningham isn’t backing down. She’s drawn a line in the sand—not just for Caitlin Clark, but for the league itself.

Will the WNBA listen? Or will it let jealousy and indifference squander its greatest opportunity yet?