Mercury HC Praises Sophie Cunningham For Defending Caitlin Clark in Fever-Sun Fight

Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts gave a shoutout to Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham for coming to the defense of teammate Caitlin Clark during a fight between the Fever and Connecticut Sun earlier in the season.

"I think when you come in this league, again I'm learning this league, as a second-round pick you've got to have to have some toughness and grit to you," Tibbetts told reporters. "She’s embraced that role, and it’s worked for them. And so I give Sophie credit, because she competes at a high level."

Tibbetts coached Cunningham on the Mercury during the 2024 season before she joined the Fever in a Feb. 2 trade.

During Indiana's 88-71 win over Connecticut on June 17, Cunningham was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul on Sun guard Jacy Sheldon that resulted in a physical altercation.

Earlier in the game, Clark was accidentally poked in the eye by Sheldon and responded with a push. Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey ended up giving Clark a light shove in return.

Cunningham has lived up to expectations during her first year with Indiana, opening the season as a reserve before stepping into the team's starting lineup.

She's averaging 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting a career-high 46.7 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point territory in 25 appearances.