Fever Fans Hype Sophie Cunningham after Intense Brawl With Caitlin Clark’s Rival Jacy Sheldon

Ever since Sophie Cunningham joined the Indiana Fever, she has built up a good rapport with star point guard Caitlin Clark.

Fever Fans Hype Sophie Cunningham after Intense Brawl With Caitlin Clark’s Rival Jacy Sheldon

Sophie Cunningham brawls with Jacy Sheldon (Image via FirstSportz)

In her debut season, Caitlin Clark brought a new level of trash talk and competitiveness to the WNBA. The league was accustomed to star players holding their ground, but they were not prepared for a rookie to show her fire this early.

Along with the supposed jealousy surrounding her fame, the Indiana Fever superstar was subjected to the physical side of the league. Soon, blindside shoves, bumps, and taunts followed as her peers felt the rookie was getting ahead of herself.

Many asked the Fever to recruit an enforcer to protect Caitlin Clark. The season passed, and the superstar guard decided to take matters literally into her own hands by becoming stronger. At the same time, the franchise brought in veteran players who could hold their own in case the situation needed it.

Against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, that situation arrived after Clark and longtime collegiate rival Jacy Sheldon got into it throughout the game. It escalated to a point where the latter smacked the Iowa alum in the face, which led to another brawl where Marina Mabrey sent Clark crashing to the floor.

When it was time for Sophie Cunningham to take to the floor, she found herself chasing Sheldon on a fast break. The veteran guard first brought the Sun star down with both hands. Then, as Sheldon went back to confront Cunningham, the Fever forward grabbed her by her head.

Even though officials and teammates from both sides tried to separate them, it seemed as if Sophie Cunningham was intent on letting Jacy Sheldon know she is there to confront her when needed. Watching this unfold, the Indiana Fever fans packing the arena chanted the veteran’s name.

Fever HC lashes out at officiating after hypocrisy in Caitlin Clark foul and Sophie Cunningham ejection

Sophie Cunningham’s efforts to establish a stand led to her ejection. Additionally, Fever head coach Stephanie White was not impressed with the officials who did not eject Marina Mabrey after she shoved Caitlin Clark to the floor. Moreover, she claimed that the officials allowed these brawls to happen.

I think it was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing, right? When the officials don’t get control of the ballgame, when you allow them to play physical, and you allow these things to happen, they’re going to compete, and they’re going to have their teammates’ backs. It’s exactly what you expect out of fierce competition.

Stephanie White said at the post-game presser

The Fever’s head coach also highlighted how players and the league have been progressing. There are bigger, faster, and more skilled players in the league, and the game has changed. But the officiating has remained the same, and that is what has allowed all of this to happen.

Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon’s showdown was brewing all game long

Stephanie White was referring to how officials allowed Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon to go at each other all game long. She believes that when players get the notion that officials would not reprimand them, they tend to take bigger risks.

Referees allowed Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon to jaw all game long
Referees allowed Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon to jaw all game long (Image via Grace Smith/X)

If one looks at the sequence of events between those two Big Ten rivals, White may be right. Clark and Sheldon were jawing at each other all game long. It became worse after the first brawl. The way the officials awarded technical fouls, there was no way this was going to stop.

The two 2024 WNBA Draftees have generally stayed out of each other’s way until now. If this was the way their rivalry restarted in the league, their next few battles will carry an additional level of excitement that should force fans to circle their calendars.

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