“I want this team to be a leader in the country, and an enduring brand” — that’s Kelly Krauskopf’s vision for the Indiana Fever. And that confidence doesn’t just come by, not when the franchise barely managed to pull an average of 4000 in audience in 2023. That comes by when the upward trajectory seems endless, with the driving force, Caitlin Clark, assuring to stay put. Now, the Fever President may have skimmed past her name, but Sophie Cunningham isn’t.

The Indiana Fever started out the season with 2.7 million viewers, and 26 games in, they weren’t off the headlines. 1.5 million viewers on Sunday night. According to ESPN, that is one of the most-watched WNBA games ever, played between the Fever and the Chicago Sky. Clark was on the sidelines, and you couldn’t deny the lingering impact.

This was a small market. Indiana didn’t pull big-name stars or sell most merchandise like New York or Los Angeles did. But the story’s been different over the past year– attendance average is at 17,000, 1 million viewership-mark has been a thing of common, and home or away, the cheers are always loud. And Cunningham is well aware of the sole reason behind it.

In her podcast Show Me Something with West Wilson, Wilson started with, “Well, Caitlin Clark plays for the Indiana Fever. Yeah. Which I don’t know if a lot of people would consider Indiana to be the biggest, but I mean it is now. It is, wouldn’t you say? Cunningham firmly said, “It is, because of her literally.”

It’s no exaggeration, Caitlin Clark is a true phenomenon. She didn’t just boost expectations; she shattered them. What started as a projected $2.4 million economic impact for central Indiana soared to an astonishing $36.5 million. The Fever skyrocketed into the ranks of the WNBA’s most valuable franchises at around $370 million, while Clark dominates jersey sales, trailing only Steph Curry in basketball merchandise across North America. She was also one of the reasons the league made Indy the host for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. 

But Cunningham argued that her impact is not limited to the city. “Not even just the league, but like women’s basketball as a whole around the world. No, I think it’s awesome. I think it’s so funny cuz she’s like 22, 23 years old, and the whole world is watching her. Yeah. Like it is a cult following.”

It’s hard to forget that she is just starting out her career, but the impact only keeps growing. Whiel Nike put up billboards in Philippines, the Australian Football League is drawing takeaways from the Caitlin Clark Effect. She is a global superstar now and the atmosphere that demands around her? The former Mercury star describes it best. 

“Anywhere you go, it is a home game wherever we play. Like she security with her 24/7. Like, people are outrageous. Like, think of the most famous person that you know or met, times it by 10,” Cunningham revealed. 

The security is there for a reason. Her impact has had Caitlin Clark dealing with the likes of Michael Lewis, who was sentenced to 2 and a half years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to stalking and harassing the Indiana Fever guard. But it also led her to watch the smiles and excitement of little kids after she shook their hands at the Des Moines charity event. Clark’s changing lives, and Cunningham would be the last person to lack any acknowledgement. 

Caitlin Clark’s bond with Sophie Cunningham seems unbreakable

It doesn’t seem like this is Sophie Cunningham’s first season with the Fever. Ever since coming into this team, she has fit into the dynamics like a glove. We aren’t just talking about her finding her on-court role. The Tres Leches of Cunningham, Lexie Hull, and Clark, has been all the highlight of the Fever locker room. 

From their sharp social media jabs to Cunningham stepping up as Clark’s protector in her absence, their bond is pure gold. Cunningham openly acknowledges the heavy pressure Clark carries but admires her toughness and poise, always ready with, “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.” 

Even in her latest podcast, Cunningham described Clark as her ‘little cousin’, saying “She is just she’s a she’s low-key a kid. Like she’s 23 years old. Like she’s like my little cousin, you know what I mean? And so it’s been fun just to kind of like see where she’s at in her career and whatnot. But I promise you, she’s like so chill.”

Clark is still growing into her role as a superstar. While that might not seem so from the outset, she is just a sophomore, and she needs veterans like Cunningham by her side as a guide and as a friend. 

Cunningham isn’t just Clark’s teammate, she’s her fearless enforcer, ready to go to stick up for her, whether it’s a dust-up on the hardwood or a firestorm online. Her feisty, no-holds-barred attitude injects personality into this Fever squad, making her the ultimate security blanket every star wishes for. While Clark keeps her head down and lets her game do the talking, Cunningham is out front, unapologetically celebrating every achievement and making sure everyone knows just how much Clark means to Indiana.