Clark Gets Hit—Who’s Protecting Her?

A star teammate says Caitlin Clark is targeted every game while the league looks the other way.

Story Highlights

Sophie Cunningham says players target Caitlin Clark and refs fail to protect her ^[2].
League later upgraded two rough plays on Clark to flagrant-level fouls after review ^[12]^[11].
Cunningham blasted a 30-year WNBA poster that left Clark out, calling it a joke ^[2].
Cunningham fears speaking out brings fines while social media mocks her claims ^[1]^[8].

Cunningham’s Charge: Clark Gets Targeted And Officials Allow It

Sophie Cunningham said on a podcast that opponents target Caitlin Clark every single game and that the league and referees do nothing to protect her. She used blunt language to make the point and said she even drew a technical foul for calling out uneven whistles on Clark and another player ^[2]. She also said her team did not see one specific foul in a recent game, yet she stood by the larger pattern of rough treatment that Clark faces across games ^[2].

Cunningham has acted on her words during heated moments on the court. A June Fever–Sun clash turned ugly when Clark was roughed up by two opponents, and Cunningham publicly defended her afterward ^[1]. She has leaned into the “enforcer” role and accepts criticism that follows, but argues the real story is player safety and fair play. She says constant hits on the league’s biggest draw risk injury, drive fans away, and cheapen the product ^[1].

League Responses Undercut The “Nothing Happens” Narrative, But Questions Remain

The league has corrected some misses after the fact. It upgraded a hard shove by Chicago’s Chennedy Carter to a flagrant-1 after review, confirming excess force on a play that knocked Clark to the floor ^[11]. It also upgraded and suspended Alyssa Thomas for making fist contact to Clark’s throat, after no call during live action ^[12]. These steps show accountability, yet they came later. Cunningham argues that delayed justice does not protect players during the game ^[2].

Officials in one Mercury–Fever game handed out five technical fouls to cool tempers, showing active enforcement in the moment, even as emotions ran high. Still, Cunningham’s core claim is broader: that Clark endures routine, targeted contact that is not deterred by live whistles, encouraging more of the same. No public leaguewide logs have settled whether a systemic pattern exists across many games, and the lack of aggregate data leaves room for doubt on both sides ^[2].

Promotion And Respect: The Poster Snub That Lit A Fire

Cunningham blasted a WNBA 30-year poster that did not include Clark, calling the choice a joke and a missed chance to highlight the league’s most-watched star ^[2]. She said the league should promote players who bring in fans, naming Clark and her Indiana teammates. That snub fuels a larger concern for many fans: institutions reward the message they want, not real merit or market draw. The league has not shared clear criteria for the poster, keeping the debate alive ^[2].

Free Speech, Fines, And A Culture Clash Over Star Treatment

Media and fans have mocked Cunningham as a troll, which shifts focus from her safety claims to online memes ^[8]. One report described her as perfectly trolling the commissioner, which makes headlines but does not fix on-court issues ^[1]. Some fear she could face fines for speaking out, which would chill open debate. That would mirror the broader pattern conservatives see in sports: protect the brand narrative first, punish dissent, and hope the heat dies down later ^[1].

Sophie Cunningham says players are 'targeting' Caitlin Clark and WNBA, refs 'do nothing to protect her' – Yahoo Sports https://t.co/1nb8MHJhCO

— dxhebbs1020 (@dxhebbs1020) June 28, 2026

Here is the bottom line for viewers who want fair rules, not politics. The league’s after-the-fact upgrades show Clark has taken illegal contact. But delayed action does not stop cheap shots in real time. If the league wants trust, it should publish incident logs, set bright-line standards, and back officials who make tough live calls. Fans deserve a sport where stars are challenged by skill, not by unchecked hits that risk injury and erode the game ^[12].