Sophie Cunningham, a black belt in Taekwondo? Expert says Caitlin Clark enforcer 'bearhugged' Jacy Sheldon
The Indiana Fever's matchup against the Connecticut Sun was anything but ordinary, featuring high-intensity play, emotional flare-ups, and a standout moment of grit from Sophie Cunningham. In a game marked by physical clashes and rising tensions, Cunningham stole the spotlight with a fiery response that showcased not just her competitive edge but her martial arts background.
Also Read: Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson could cost him his job, former Buffalo star says: 'Not a win'
On June 17, 2025, during a heated regular-season game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, tensions boiled over between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun. The spark came late in the third quarter when Jacy Sheldon poked Caitlin Clark in the eye, followed by a shove from Marina Mabrey. In response, Cunningham—known for her black belt in taekwondo—charged in to defend Clark, delivering a hard foul on Sheldon that ignited a scuffle and ultimately led to her ejection from the game.
Following the incident, she quickly rose to fame as Clark's 'enforcer'. Cunningham earned her black belt in Taekwondo at the age of 6. Many users expressed adoration for the player on social media as one user wrote, 'Black belt Sophie Cunningham of the Fever… I'm a big fan.' A second user wrote, 'WNBA needs to know that Sophie Cunningham is a black belt. She will piece you the f*** up lol.' A third user wrote, 'Sophie Cunningham literally got her black belt at the age of 6. She's not the one to mess with.'
Also Read: CJ Mosley retires: All about NFL star's wife Thelma Mosley, kids and net worth
Veteran analyst Rachel DeMita, who also holds a black belt in taekwondo, weighed in on Sophie Cunningham's actions during the heated moment. She shared on her YouTube channel, 'Sophie did not grab her and throw her to the ground,' as reported by Marca. She continued, 'She didn't body-slam her, she didn't do anything, in my personal opinion. Maybe I'm biased here but I want to give you guys my straight up honest opinion on this. She bearhugged her, took her to the ground…'
DeMita also shared, 'Yes, it was intentional. It was absolutely intentional. It was, for me, a payback for what was happening the entire game. But she (Sophie) did it in a way that she wasn't going to injure Jacy.' She added, 'She was just making it known, like, 'If the refs aren't going to handle it, I will handle it. We'll take care of it. But this is not what you're going to do when you come into our house.'"
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
WNBA controversy grows after Caitlin Clark's fall and Sophie Cunningham hit with double fine
WNBA controversy grows after Caitlin Clark fall and Sophie Cunningham hit with double fine (Image via Getty) A tense game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun has turned into a bigger story off the court. That was a rough fight that ended in moot fouls, arguing, and extra punishment from the WNBA. The Indiana Fever won the game defeating the Dream 88-71 on Tuesday night, June 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, but all attention quickly shifted back to a hard moment featuring Caitlin Clark. Fans are still talking about what happened these last few minutes, and now it's been communicated that the league didn't like it either. Sophie Cunningham fined again after foul on Jacy Sheldon and Caitlin Clark's fall With the game winding down on Tuesday, Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham drove into Connecticut Sun rookie Jacy Sheldon and fouled her hard. The drama unfolded immediately after the foul. There was lots of shoving, together with a player screaming at another. Simultaneously, Caitlin Clark was knocked to the ground after being shoved by Marina Mabrey of the Connecticut Sun. Following a review of the whole scenario, the WNBA acted decisively on increasing penalties. Sophie Cunningham was first given a Flagrant-2 foul, which comes with an automatic fine. But the league also gave her another fine for making the situation worse. The actual amounts of the penalties were not disclosed. Caitlin Clark, who had 20 points, 6 assists and 1 rebounding in the game that night, also found herself caught up in the tornado. She and her teammate, Tina Charles, were both given technical fouls. It was a messy and dramatic end to what should have been just another regular-season win for the Indiana Fever. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and coaches react to tense game in Indianapolis After the game, Connecticut Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa shared her thoughts on what happened. She said, 'It was a physical game tonight. When things aren't controlled early, they get out of hand.' Fever head coach Stephanie White also spoke briefly but did not go into details. The league is still silent as to whether other measures will be employed. The game held on June 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, also raises new questions about how the WNBA protects its players, particularly its rising stars like Caitlin Clark. Also Read: Who Is Sophie Cunningham? Viral WNBA Moment Shows Her Fierce Defense Of Caitlin Clark Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Sophie Cunningham, a black belt in Taekwondo? Expert says Caitlin Clark enforcer 'bearhugged' Jacy Sheldon
The Indiana Fever's matchup against the Connecticut Sun was anything but ordinary, featuring high-intensity play, emotional flare-ups, and a standout moment of grit from Sophie Cunningham. In a game marked by physical clashes and rising tensions, Cunningham stole the spotlight with a fiery response that showcased not just her competitive edge but her martial arts background. Also Read: Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson could cost him his job, former Buffalo star says: 'Not a win' On June 17, 2025, during a heated regular-season game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, tensions boiled over between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun. The spark came late in the third quarter when Jacy Sheldon poked Caitlin Clark in the eye, followed by a shove from Marina Mabrey. In response, Cunningham—known for her black belt in taekwondo—charged in to defend Clark, delivering a hard foul on Sheldon that ignited a scuffle and ultimately led to her ejection from the game. Following the incident, she quickly rose to fame as Clark's 'enforcer'. Cunningham earned her black belt in Taekwondo at the age of 6. Many users expressed adoration for the player on social media as one user wrote, 'Black belt Sophie Cunningham of the Fever… I'm a big fan.' A second user wrote, 'WNBA needs to know that Sophie Cunningham is a black belt. She will piece you the f*** up lol.' A third user wrote, 'Sophie Cunningham literally got her black belt at the age of 6. She's not the one to mess with.' Also Read: CJ Mosley retires: All about NFL star's wife Thelma Mosley, kids and net worth Veteran analyst Rachel DeMita, who also holds a black belt in taekwondo, weighed in on Sophie Cunningham's actions during the heated moment. She shared on her YouTube channel, 'Sophie did not grab her and throw her to the ground,' as reported by Marca. She continued, 'She didn't body-slam her, she didn't do anything, in my personal opinion. Maybe I'm biased here but I want to give you guys my straight up honest opinion on this. She bearhugged her, took her to the ground…' DeMita also shared, 'Yes, it was intentional. It was absolutely intentional. It was, for me, a payback for what was happening the entire game. But she (Sophie) did it in a way that she wasn't going to injure Jacy.' She added, 'She was just making it known, like, 'If the refs aren't going to handle it, I will handle it. We'll take care of it. But this is not what you're going to do when you come into our house.'"
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Sophie Cunningham called out by WNBA for pulling Alyssa Thomas after Caitlin Clark foul
Sophie Cunningham called out by WNBA for pulling Alyssa Thomas after Caitlin Clark foul (Image via Getty) A strange situation took place during the Indiana Fever vying for the Connecticut Sun on Monday, June 10, 2025. The contest displayed all of the typical components, until a play in the third quarter led to something rather interesting falling into the world of sports. Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and Alyssa Thomas were the names given. Things grew physical, and the WNBA was not going to ignore it. Many fans watching live or later on social media were surprised. Now, one of the players from the Fever has been officially punished by the league, and people want to know why. Sophie Cunningham penalized for pulling down Alyssa Thomas after hard foul on Caitlin Clark The Indiana Fever took on the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday night, June 10, 2025. The third quarter of this match saw things heat up significantly when Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun, in an effort to get a rebound, fouled Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. The contact by Alyssa Thomas sent Caitlin Clark crashing to the floor and was observed not only by players, but also by the refs and fans. Right after that, Indiana Fever's guard Sophie Cunningham reacted. She quickly grabbed Alyssa Thomas from behind and pulled her down. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Find Incredible Offers & Incentives On New Or Used Cars In Your Area! Car Deals Near You Learn More Undo The referees, at their own discretion, hit stop and reviewed the play. There was a loud reaction from the crowd and both teams looked tense. On Wednesday June 12, 2025 the WNBA levied a fine against Sophie Cunningham for "unsportsmanlike conduct." The league declared that her behavior was unnecessary and went beyond the standard expectations of conduct in a game. The league did not provide a dollar figure for the fine, but the notification fulfilled the purpose of an official punishment for her actions during the game. Caitlin Clark, Stephanie White and others react to the action on the court Caitlin Clark, who had just been fouled by Alyssa Thomas before this occurred, remained composed when asked about it. She told reporters,'I always try to focus on the game and not let things get to me.' Caitlin Clark didn't mention Sophie Cunningham or Alyssa Thomas directly. Connecticut Sun's coach, Stephanie White, spoke out after the game. She said, 'Physical play is part of basketball, but we must keep it safe. That moment was too much.' Neither Sophie Cunningham nor the Indiana Fever have shared any official comments about the fine yet. The league continues to remind players that safety and respect must come first. Also Read: Three Ejected After Massive Brawl Erupts During Indiana Fever Vs Connecticut Sun Game Following Foul On Caitlin Clark Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
