When Sophie Cunningham said, “I’m fierce, I’m sassy, I stick up for my teammates,” prior to the ongoing season, she didn’t just drop it at the words. It took her mere weeks before she had established herself as the ‘enforcer’ on the team, serving Caitlin Clark revenge whenever necessary. The ‘security guard’ tag even stuck with her after she had fouled Jacy Sheldon for a scuffle involving the reigning ROTY. But now that she is off nursing her knee injury, are fans void of that camaraderie? Well, Aliyah Boston is filling in, even refreshing a few of last year’s memories in the process.

On the latest episode of the Post Moves podcast, Candace Parker brought up an instance involving Caitlin Clark and the refs. It was after the game against the Sparks– the 23-year-old had towards the officials after there were three whistles given with about a second left in the game. She was speculated to be saying, “you gave them chances to win, what’s your deal?” Before Clark could go further, it was Aliyah Boston, very instinctively stopping her from escalating the situation. And she had a hilarious take on the situation.

“That was funny,” she started. “She’s such a troll. You see she’s smiling. She’s a troll. Like look at her. She can’t help it. I think it’s so funny. Like, I am so used to it. I am not even fazed. I am walking away and still pulling her arm back. I’m like, ‘Girl, come onn.'” Now, Sophie Cunningham may have come to be known as the ‘protector’, but handling this side of the reigning ROTY? No one knows it better than last year’s Fever roster.

Caitlin Clark was one technical foul away from being suspended for a game in her rookie year. She might as well have reached the tally had she not had the “Caitlin Clark de-escalation committee” by her side. When photographer Bri Lewerke had posted a few snaps for the gram where the team was trying to cool down the young guard, Boston had replied, “We work overtime.” They say old habits die hard, and the Clarks know it best.

Refs vs Caitlin has been a thing ever since she was in high school, and extends to soccer, too. The Fever sensation has received her share of yellow cards and more before she decided to stick with basketball. Only years in, it is teammates running around to reduce those numbers. So Candace Parker had a playful spin to it.

“We’re going to keep your off-court assists on the season,” Parker joked. “So, that’s two Caitlin. Because the first one was grabbing her drink when she was on the Stud Buds live stream. And then this one now is allowing her to keep her money in her pockets. Not that she needs to, but you know, spend it how you want.”

From pregame hugs to helping each other off the floor, the dynamic shines through.

Sophie Cunningham shares her tryst with WNBA Officials

Sophie Cunningham has built a reputation as the Indiana Fever’s enforcer. She doubled down on it earlier this year when she grabbed rookie Jacy Sheldon in the final moments of a game as payback for an earlier eye-poke on Caitlin Clark. But the move got her tossed and slapped with a penalty. But Cunningham didn’t stop there. She went after the league itself. She posted a TikTok lip-syncing Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” while mocking refs. The result? A $500 fine.

The issue soon snowballed. Cunningham racked up more than $1,500 in penalties for comments on her podcast. Every time she criticized officiating or league inefficiencies, the WNBA came down on her. She even drew another fine for speaking on Paige Bueckers. Instead of backing off, she turned defiant.

“Well, I don’t think I have to numb it down. I think if I say the word ref on this podcast, I’m going to get fined, so I might as well go balls to the wall,” Cunningham fired back. Even after tearing her MCL and ending her season, the fines kept coming. Cunningham’s off-court shots at referees and the league cost her as much as her bruising style on the hardwood.