Late last month, the Indiana Fever orchestrated a significant three-team trade, acquiring guard Sophie Cunningham to bolster their backcourt alongside Caitlin Clark. The transaction also saw 2020’s No. 2 overall pick, Satou Sabally, depart the Dallas Wings for the Phoenix Mercury. In return, Dallas received point guard Ty Harris, the rights to Mikiah “Kiki” Herbert Harrigan from Phoenix, and forward NaLyssa Smith from Indiana. The Fever also relinquished their eighth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, while securing Cunningham and the No. 19 selection.
Two weeks after the trade, Cunningham spoke openly about her unexpected relocation and her prior recruitment efforts toward Clark. During an interview, she admitted to attempting to lure Clark to Phoenix during the WNBA All-Star Game, despite the Fever guard still being in her rookie season. “I totally was,” Cunningham confessed when asked if she had tried to recruit Clark. Reflecting on the trade, she suggested she may have manifested the move. “Maybe I put it in the atmosphere and it happened. I never really saw myself leaving Phoenix—it was my home away from home. I had a great off-court situation and built a lot of fun relationships there.”
Embracing her new role with enthusiasm, Cunningham introduced a playful nickname for her partnership with Clark. Comparing their dynamic to pop culture icons, she stated, “I told people upstairs I will be her Sabrina Carpenter any day to her Taylor Swift—I am so excited for this.” She continued, praising Clark’s character and resilience, “She’s just a great human. She’s got a lot of pressure on her shoulders and a lot of eyes on her, and she handles it all so gracefully. I’m just excited to be part of something like that.”
For Cunningham, the transition to Indiana marks a new chapter in her career, one that aligns her with a rising force in the WNBA. Clark, who took the league by storm in her debut season, is expected to elevate the Fever to new heights, and Cunningham’s arrival adds both experience and much-needed perimeter shooting to the roster. With their chemistry already forming off the court, Indiana is banking on their synergy translating into on-court success.
The Fever will kick off their highly anticipated 2025 campaign on May 17 against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, setting the stage for an electrifying start to the season. With Clark at the helm and Cunningham ready to complement her, Indiana’s revamped squad is primed to make a statement in the WNBA.
