WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Finds Her Enforcer: Sophie Cunningham’s Martial Arts Move Sparks WNBA Brawl – Black Belt Uses Thai Clinch

Black belt Sophie Cunningham is the enforcer Caitlin Clark has been asking for. Caitlin Clark’s season in the WNBA is turning into a real-life action movie, except instead of dodging bullets, she’s dodging cheap shots and elbows. The Indiana Fever’s golden girl can’t seem to step on the court without someone trying to knock her off her throne, but luckily for her, the Fever just signed their own version of a bodyguard: Sophie Cunningham, the team’s resident black belt and all-around tough cookie. If you thought basketball was just about three-pointers and fast breaks, think again. This season, it’s about who’s got your back when things get ugly.

From Taekwondo to the Hardwood: Sophie Cunningham Protects Caitlin Clark with a Thai Clinch

Meet Sophie Cunningham, the Fever’s new “enforcer.” Cunningham, who joined Indiana in the offseason, isn’t just any tough guard – she’s a Taekwondo black belt, earning the honor at the tender age of six, making her the youngest ever in Missouri at the time. If you’re going to mess with Caitlin Clark, you’d better be ready to go through Cunningham (6 ft 1 in/1.85 m) first.

With the game winding down and the Fever up big, Jacy Sheldon shoved Clark and then tried to drive to the basket. Cunningham, channeling her martial arts roots, wrapped Sheldon up in what could only be described as a textbook Thai clinch, think less basketball, more Muay Thai demonstration. She took Sheldon to the floor, sparking a scuffle that saw both players ejected and the crowd buzzing. Here is the entire sequence:

Fans on social media wasted no time, dubbing Cunningham “The Enforcer” and showering her with praise for standing up for her teammate. “Every superstar needs a Sophie Cunningham,” one fan wrote, while another declared, “She shouldn’t have to pay for a meal in Indiana.” Even Barstool’s Dave Portnoy chimed in, celebrating Cunningham’s no-nonsense approach to protecting Clark.

Of course, not everyone was impressed. Sun head coach Rachid Meziane called the foul “stupid” and “disrespectful,” especially with the Fever up by 17 points. But Fever coach Stephanie White saw it differently, pointing out that when officials lose control, players take matters into their own hands.

Sophie Cunningham’s martial arts background isn’t just for show. Growing up in a family of athletes, she learned early how to compete and hold her ground. Her black belt in Taekwondo isn’t just a fun fact, it’s a warning label. As one analyst put it, “If she wanted to hurt Sheldon, she could have. But that wasn’t the point. She was sending a message: If you mess with our star, you’re messing with all of us.”

After the game, Cunningham didn’t apologize. She posted a photo of herself shrugging, as if to say, “What did you expect?” The league may hand down a fine, but Cunningham’s message was clear: the Fever have Clark’s back, and anyone looking to take a cheap shot might want to brush up on their self-defense first.