WNBAs Sophie Cunningham defends Caitlin Clark in TikTok, gets fined

July 24, 2025

A WNBA player who recently reached the echelons of everyday fame says she was just fined $500 for criticizing referees in a TikTok video.

In one viral incident, Sophie Cunningham grabbed Connecticut Sun player Jacy Sheldon and shoved her to the ground after Sheldon reportedly poked Clark in the eye earlier in the game. The incident got millions of views on social media, Cunningham’s jerseys started selling, and she’s since garnered over a million followers on Instagram and TikTok.

There’s been talk amongst Fever fans that referees have been too tough on Kaitlin Clark specifically, and Cunningham has been particularly loud in her teammate’s defense. She said the league’s referees don’t adequately protect Clark, who she calls “the star player of the WNBA,” from fouls and rough play. Cunningham seemingly pushed that support one step further this week with a TikTok video poking fun at referees, which she says led to a $500 fine. Mashable