“NOT TODAY, SATAN”: Sophie Cunningham Just Became the Indiana Fever’s Bodyguard-in-Chief

It wasn’t just a game. It was a warning shot. A statement. A moment that ripped the preseason label right off the scoreboard and replaced it with “Try Me.”

Sophie Cunningham didn’t come to the Indiana Fever for pleasantries, endorsements, or warmups. She came to make an impact. And in her first appearance in the Fever jersey, she did exactly that—dropping buckets, shutting down the opposition, and sending a crystal-clear message to the league: You don’t mess with my team. Especially not Caitlin Clark.

The showdown against the Washington Mystics wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a preseason tune-up. Clark sat out. The lights were slightly dimmer. The stakes were technically low. But don’t tell that to Sophie Cunningham. Because when one Mystics player decided to test boundaries—with a flagrant foul no less—Cunningham responded the only way she knows how: with fire, force, and a fearless stare that could’ve melted steel.

“NOT TODAY, SATAN,” she barked, silencing a trash-talker and igniting Fever fans across the country. That moment wasn’t just highlight-reel material—it was viral gold. And more importantly, it marked the emergence of a new enforcer in the WNBA. A protector. A leader. A weapon.

The Bodyguard Indiana Didn’t Know It Needed

After the departure of forward NaLyssa Smith, Indiana Fever fans were left wondering who would bring the edge, the toughness, the dog mentality to stand alongside Caitlin Clark. Enter Sophie Cunningham—a veteran with a killer three, a bruiser’s mindset, and zero tolerance for nonsense.

She didn’t just fill the role. She redefined it.

In a game filled with jawing, elbows, and tension, Sophie didn’t back down once. When Mystics players got physical—first Kiki Iriafen, then Brittney Sykes, both hit with flagrants—Sophie stood her ground. Unbothered. Unshaken. Unapologetic. When she got knocked down by a rookie, she bounced right back and stared down the aggressor with icy defiance.

She didn’t need to flex. She didn’t scream. She let her game—and her glare—do the talking.

Sophie vs. the Mystics: A Masterclass in Controlled Chaos

While the Mystics stumbled through the game like they’d just wandered into a yoga class by mistake—unfocused, unprepared, and embarrassingly flat—Sophie Cunningham was surgical. She led both teams in scoring. She owned every possession like it owed her rent. She defended like it was personal. Because it was.

Watching the Mystics try to guard her was like watching toddlers try to put out a wildfire with juice boxes. They gave her space and prayed she’d miss. Spoiler alert: She didn’t. She dropped shot after shot with the composure of someone who’s seen the fire and walked through it.

Meanwhile, on the bench sat NaLyssa Smith—former Fever player, now warming a Mystics jersey—watching her replacement torch the court she used to own. And you could almost hear her internal monologue: “Wait… they replaced me with her?” Yes, they did. And Fever fans are thanking the basketball gods they made the swap.

A League-Wide Wake-Up Call

Sophie’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time. Caitlin Clark—America’s rookie darling, NCAA phenom, and WNBA ratings magnet—has been through a trial by fire since day one. Veterans haven’t welcomed her. They’ve targeted her. She’s taken cheap shots, elbows, and thinly veiled acts of intimidation.

But Clark hasn’t cracked. She’s responded with class, skill, and composure far beyond her rookie status. Still, the Fever needed someone to set a tone. To send a message to the league:

Caitlin Clark is not alone.

And Sophie Cunningham was more than ready to answer that call.

When Clark is off the floor, the Fever often look like a train without a conductor. Sophie saw that. And instead of waiting for direction, she took the wheel and floored it.

She didn’t just show up—she imposed her will.

The “Try Me” Energy the Fever Craved

Cunningham’s performance wasn’t just stats on a box score—it was attitude, defiance, and grit personified. She’s not here to play nice. She’s here to win. She’s here to protect. She’s the type of player who’d set a screen on a freight train if it meant Clark could get an open look.

She’s also not afraid to clap back. When the Mystics came with their drama and dirty plays, Sophie shut it down with a look that said, “You really want to do this?” And just like that, the energy shifted.

You can’t teach that.

Fever fans wanted an enforcer, someone who wouldn’t let their star rookie get bullied. Sophie is all that and more. She’s the spark, the soldier, the vet who reads the room and knows when to lead, when to push, and when to absolutely blow it up.

As she said herself: “I can read a room pretty well… when I see we’re lacking a little bit, you gotta step up.”

Step up? She practically broke the floor.

A New Era in Indy

This isn’t just about one preseason game. This is about identity. Culture. Vibe.

Indiana is building something. And Sophie Cunningham is a foundational piece. She brings that old-school, no-nonsense energy that says, “We’re not here to participate. We’re here to dominate.” She’s not just a scorer or a defender—she’s a tone-setter.

When asked about her mindset, Sophie said, “This is a new era for me… a breath of fresh air. We’ve got a lot of dogs. I’m just doing whatever the team needs me to do.”

Whatever the team needs? Turns out they needed a lioness. And they got one.

Final Thoughts: The Real Ones Know

There will be critics. There always are. Some folks are already mad, already painting Sophie as a villain. The online noise is deafening. But ask any Fever fan who watched that game—they’ll tell you the truth.

That’s our girl.

Sophie Cunningham wasn’t brought in for fluff. She was brought in to battle. To bark back. To protect Clark. To put the league on notice.

And this was just preseason.

So, to the rest of the WNBA: You’ve been warned. Indiana Fever has a new bodyguard. She goes by Sophie. And she’s not here to make friends.

She’s here to make statements.