Groin injury kept her out of All-Star Weekend’s main event

Sophie Cunningham

 

The Indiana Fever returned from the WNBA All-Star break on Tuesday, hoping to reset their season, but despite fresh energy and a competitive first half, Indiana suffered another defeat to the New York Liberty, falling 98-84 in Brooklyn.

It marked the team’s second straight loss to the defending Eastern Conference champions and dropped Indiana’s season record further into the bottom tier of the standings.

Missing from the lineup once again was Caitlin Clark, sidelined for the second consecutive game due to a groin injury that also kept her out of All-Star Weekend’s main event.

Clark still made her presence felt on the national stage, serving as an assistant coach for Team WNBA during the All-Star Game and drawing up one of the contest’s most talked-about plays. And for her teammate Sophie Cunningham, the moment stood out.

“I think the play drawing up was 10 out of 10,” Cunningham said, reflecting on Clark’s clipboard duties and her in-game leadership from the sideline.

Cunningham teases Clark

Clark‘s presence at the All-Star festivities, though limited to the bench, drew both laughs and admiration not only from fans, but also from her teammates.

While her basketball IQ and leadership were on full display, her animated sideline reactions were a different story. At least, according to Cunningham.

“The reactions afterwards was a negative 100 out of 10,” Cunningham joked. “She needs to work on her negative reactions but, no, I’m just proud of her for being in it.

“Having a good attitude toward everything, she’s going through a lot right now.”

Cunningham‘s comments come with both sincerity and playfulness, a teammate acknowledging not only the buzz Clark brings to the league but also the emotional toll of navigating injuries and heightened expectations.

This season, the Fever have leaned heavily on their younger core, even while dealing with inconsistency and injuries.

Clark has missed 12 games, and while her absence continues to shape the team’s short-term outlook, veterans like Cunningham are stepping in to provide both scoring and leadership.

In Tuesday’s game, Cunningham contributed 12 points and four rebounds in the loss, continuing her steady role as a glue player for Indiana.

The 6-foot-1 guard joined the Fever this offseason after spending her first four seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. So far, she’s averaging 6.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and just under one assist per game with her new team.