Sophie Cunningham’s latest PE with Adidas has raised a lot of eyebrows in the WNBA world. Several fans and analysts wondered whether she deserved the kind of attention she is getting from everywhere, and now, Cari Champion has added her take to it. Some have also connected this achievement to her being a close ally of Caitlin Clark. The analyst also seemed to attest to that view.
During the Thursday episode of their show “Flagrant and Funny w/ Cari Champion & Jemele Hill,” they talked about Cunningham and her recent rise to fame. Before the launch of Crazy Energy PE, which is set for July 24, Champion said:
“I absolutely feel like the reason why she got a shoe is because people find her attractive to look at and she is ‘Clark’s enforcer protector.'”
Cunningham is popular for her brawls, especially the finger-pointing saga she underwent with DeWanna Bonner of the Phoenix Mercury. A lot of her tussles on the court stem from other players targeting Clark. That is bound to have some implications on her popularity, given the Fever guard is a phenomenon in herself.
Jemele Hill and Champion also argued that there were better players in the league who aren’t getting this kind of attention and marketing deals. Meanwhile, her statement that she only got the deal because she is good-looking might face backlash among fans. Whatever might be the reason, the Indiana Fever forward would be pleased to have a shoe named after her for now.
Sophie Cunningham highlights key areas after loss to the Valkyries
Sophie Cunningham led the Fever bench with 10 points and four steals against the Valkyries, but the team lost the game, 75-88. Reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Kelsey Mitchell, led the offense with 20 points, but Caitlin Clark’s performance seems to be in free fall, as she scored just 4-for-14 from the field and sank just one shot from deep.
After the game, Cunningham highlighted the issues with the offense and why they lost their hold on the game. She said:
“Man, I think we had a little bit too many turnovers. They definitely slowed the pace down. And at the end of the day, we’ve gotta play what works for us; we’ve got to keep our pace high, we’ve got to play our defensive schemes, take care of business on the defensive end, get boards, and run. That’s what we’re good at.”
The Fever have once again failed to convert their single win into a promising streak. The team has struggled with consistency for the entire season, while Clark’s shooting remains an issue. A lot of the franchise’s decisions will depend on how it performs this season.
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