It may have only been an exhibition game, but if today was even an inkling of what Sophie Cunningham has to offer the Indiana Fever, things could get good this year.
Cunningham saw extended action in today’s preseason game between the Fever and the Washington Mystics. With Caitlin Clark ruled out hours prior with an injury, Cunningham was given some extra time on the court and made the most of it.
The former starter for the Phoenix Mercury helped lead the Fever to a comeback win over the Mystics, dropping 21 points in a 79-74 overtime win. She went 6-of-11 on field goals with eight rebounds, two assists and one steal during the game.
After the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White had only one word to describe her new shooting guard: “Dawg.”
“Oh my god. Sophie’s a dawg,” White said, putting that extra emphasis on the word. “She just is. She’s a competitor… Versatile, so she allows us to do different things. Like, she plays with such a toughness. You know, she’s huge, and she’s going to be for us all season long. But what she brings from an energy standpoint, she raises the level of play of everybody around her as soon as she gets on the floor…”
Speaking to a reporter after the game, Cunningham was also overjoyed by the atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and that it can be very hard to play in as an opponent.
“I’m an energy player… When you get this building popping, it’s really hard to play here.”
Indiana Fever Sophie Cunningham (8) gets the crowd excited Saturday, May 3, 2025, during a preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Grace Smith/IndyStar.
Cunningham joined the Fever in a four-team trade that took place several months ago. She had spent the entirety of her six-year WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury.
Over the past three years, Cunningham has really emerged as one of the better shooting guards in the league, putting up solid numbers on a weekly basis.
While we didn’t get a chance to see how she works alongside Caitlin Clark, a showing like today definitely gives hope.
The Fever made the playoffs at 20-20 this past season but are surely looking to improve on that win total this year.
