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Sophie Cunningham doesn’t perceive why anybody contained in the WNBA would hesitate to acknowledge Caitlin Clark’s affect.
The r veteran provided a direct protection of her teammate throughout an look on Colin Cowherd’s podcast. Cunningham argued that celebrating Clark doesn’t require diminishing the gamers who helped construct the league earlier than her arrival.
“It’s been a blessing that she’s in our league,” Cunningham mentioned. “I feel the expertise has at all times been there in our league. However simply the eyes and the platform and the way she’s reworking our sport.”
Cunningham then delivered her sharpest level.
“She has accomplished a lot for our sport proper now, and I don’t know why persons are so reluctant to provide her flowers,” .
Caitlin Clark’s affect is seen throughout the WNBA
Clark’s significance can’t be decreased to 1 statistic. The Fever have turn into one of many league’s greatest points of interest at house and on the highway. Their video games repeatedly obtain marquee tv slots, opposing groups put together for bigger crowds when Indiana visits and Clark stays one of the vital mentioned athletes in American sports activities.
View on InstagramThat spotlight has created extra alternatives for different gamers to be seen.
Cunningham additionally emphasised that Clark’s arrival doesn’t erase the work accomplished by earlier generations. Each concepts could be true. The WNBA had elite expertise earlier than Clark entered the league, and Clark has helped introduce that expertise to a wider viewers.
Her manufacturing strengthens the argument. Clark has developed into one of many WNBA’s most harmful offensive gamers, combining deep taking pictures with elite passing. She entered the World Cup break as a part of an Indiana workforce that owned the league’s finest offensive score.
Cunningham has seen Clark’s affect from shut vary
Cunningham joined the Fever via a commerce in 2025 and rapidly turned an essential a part of Indiana’s rotation. She is averaging 8.3 factors whereas taking pictures 43.4 p.c from 3-point vary. Her potential to house the ground is particularly precious alongside Clark, whose passing creates open alternatives when defenses ship a number of gamers towards the ball.
Cunningham has additionally developed a detailed friendship with Clark and Lexie Hull. That relationship provides her a perspective outsiders do not need. She sees the eye Clark faces, the calls for on her time and the strain she carries into each area. That doesn’t make Cunningham an neutral observer, however her central argument is tough to dispute.
Recognizing Clark’s affect doesn’t require ignoring WNBA historical past. It merely requires acknowledging what is going on in entrance of everybody.
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