Sophie Cunningham defends Caitlin Clark… but not her jokes

In the WNBA, not everything happens under the rim. Sometimes, a single social media post can shift the course of a career—or a contract. Sophie Cunningham knows that firsthand. The Indiana Fever forward, now one of Caitlin Clark’s closest teammates, revealed on her podcast Show Me Something how a joke from the superstar nearly cost her several swimsuit sponsorships.

It all started during a trip to Los Angeles, where Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, also with the Fever, posted bikini photos while sunbathing. In a playful caption, Cunningham wrote: “Any swimsuit brands wanna collaborate with us?” The post went viral, but Caitlin Clark’s reply caught everyone off guard: “Swimsuit brands plz comment ‘focus on basketball.’”

A million-dollar joke

The line, clearly meant as a joke, stirred up some noise. According to Sophie Cunningham, five brands had reached out to discuss potential deals—and Caitlin Clark’ s comment put those talks in jeopardy. “Dude, you’re ruining the deal for Lexie and me,” Cunningham said on her podcast, as cited by Firstsportz. For Cunningham, Clark’s trolling was funny… until it got expensive.

Sophie frying Caitlin after she said, “Swimsuit brands, please comment focus on basketball”:

“I’m going to kill her. I just know it. Dude, you are ruining me and Lexi’s deals. She stays trolling me and Lexi”

😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6tDysxgz22

— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) August 13, 2025

The relationship between Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark has grown since the Missouri veteran joined the team. Alongside Hull, they’ve formed the trio “Tres Leches,” a nickname coined by Cunningham in honor of the Latin dessert. The three have shared plenty of moments on and off the court. Hull and Cunningham have also been Clark’s main support system during her recovery from a groin injury.

Trending beyond the court

But Sophie Cunningham didn’t stop at the swimsuit saga. She also addressed DeWanna Bonner’s departure from the team, criticizing the veteran’s lack of professionalism after leaving without saying goodbye. “That team is drama to me,” Cunningham said, referring to the Phoenix Mercury—Bonner’s current squad.

The story between Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark blends sports, friendship, marketing, and social media. And while it all started as a joke, it’s a reminder that in the WNBA, every post can have real-world consequences.