Caitlin Clark’s Teammate Sophie Cunningham Calls Out Refs ‘Not Protecting the Star Player of the WNBA’ After Viral Brawl

It’s confirmed beyond question: Sophie Cunningham was defending Caitlin Clark. What was once speculation following the brawl between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun is now a fact.

Recently, Cunningham confirmed in an interview that she would do anything to protect her teammate, while also calling out referees for not protecting Clark during the brawl.

Sophie Cunningham Slams Refs for Not Protecting Caitlin Clark After WNBA Brawl

WNBA referees are once again under heavy scrutiny. By now, everyone is aware of what happened during the Sun vs. Fever game. While Cunningham has received widespread praise for stepping in to protect Clark, the referees are facing backlash for not ejecting any Sun players following the altercation.

Starting the conversation for her team, Fever head coach Stephanie White took aim at the WNBA referees, saying, “Now, things are happening quickly. Everybody’s getting better, except the officials. So we got to find a way to remedy it. I mean, you’ve heard every coach talk about it, so I don’t know what the answer is.”

Cunningham has joined the criticism and directly addressed the issue with reporters.

Talking about her physical defense of Clark, Cunningham explained, “I’m just gonna be me. I don’t go in there trying to predetermine anything. I’m dialed in. I need to focus on hitting my shots, making sure I’m executing the schemes right. I’m not focused on extracurricular activities. You know what? During that, it was just part of the game. I think the refs had a lot to do with that.”

She then pointed to the officials, saying, “It was a buildup for a couple of years now of them just not protecting the star player of the WNBA. And so at the end of the day, I’m gonna protect my teammates. That’s what I do. And I’m a team player.”

The incident started when Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye. After that, it didn’t take long for things to get out of hand. Fever fans quickly took to social media, cheering for Cunningham, who retaliated against Sheldon at the end of the game. Many felt that Clark had been targeted with rough play since joining the league, and this was just the latest example.

But something surprising is happening with Cunningham’s fan following.

Her followers have skyrocketed in just a few days. Her TikTok account has now surpassed 1 million followers, up from approximately 300,000 before the incident. Her Instagram account has also seen a significant increase, gaining around 300,000 new followers.

Meanwhile, referees are once again facing backlash, and it appears that more controversy may be on the horizon.