Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham share true feelings about one another after WNBA preseason game

Indiana Fever basketball is back.

For their first preseason contest of 2026, Stephanie White’s team hit the road to face the New York Liberty Saturday night.

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It was expected to be a solid test ahead of the upcoming season, against the 2024 WNBA champions, and Indiana passed with flying colors.

The Fever earned a 109-91 road victory at Barclays Center, and superstar Caitlin Clark suited up for the first time in almost 10 months.

She played just 13 games during her injury-hit sophomore season, before officially being shut down in September.

Clark ended up logging 17 minutes, and finished with seven points while shooting 20 percent from the field.

Her stats don’t jump off the page, but White is confident the 2024 Rookie of the Year will find her form quickly.

With Clark rusty, a number of Fever teammates stepped up to

Kelsey Mitchell, who recently made franchise history by signing a $1.4m supermax deal to stay in Indiana, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough both logged 18 points each.

Rookie Raven Johnson led the team with eight assists, and Monique Billings racked up an impressive seven rebounds.

Postgame, though, it was another returning Indiana star who took the plaudits.

Caitlin Clark heaps praise on Sophie Cunningham after WNBA return

Like Clark, Sophie Cunningham’s 2025 season was cut short due to injury. But she made her comeback on Saturday night, and logged 13 points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist.

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Speaking afterwards, Indiana’s star guard made sure to shout out her teammate, who signed a new contract earlier this month.

“I think the thing I appreciate about Sophie more than anything is she’s never intimidated by the moment,” Clark said.

“She rises to the occasion every single time. She’s going to have her teammates’ backs. She loves when our backs are against the wall, she’s one of the loudest voices out there, fighting and scrapping.

“No matter the situation — whether we’re down 20 or up 20 — it’s the same Sophie.

“Every team in this league would probably kill to have a player like that.

“Really fortunate she’s on our side… she’s a good soul, but when she steps on the floor she’s fierce, she’s fiery, and she’s going to do anything to help our team win.”

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Cunningham, indeed, earned her ‘fierce reputation’ last season, and established herself as Clark’s on-court enforcer in the heat of battle.

Sophie Cunningham reacts to Caitlin Clark’s praise

She was in a softer mood after hearing those warm words on Saturday evening, though.

“Aww love you little stinky,” Cunningham wrote, responding to a clip of Clark’s press conference posted online by the Fever.

Clearly, the two Indiana star are close, both on and off the floor.

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They will no doubt be hoping to hit the ground running when Indiana’s WNBA season tips off on May 9 against the Dallas Wings and Clark’s Rookie of the Year successor Paige Bueckers.

If both Clark and Cunningham can stay injury-free in 2026, they will no doubt have hopes of delivering a championship too.

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