Sidelined Clark and Cunningham protest officials in Fever playoff win

Indiana Fever stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham have been relegated to cheerleaders after suffering season-ending injuries ahead of the playoffs.

But they still made an effort to impact the Fever’s playoff game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night. 

During the first quarter, Clark and Cunningham made a demonstrative gesture to officials, protesting that a Dream player should be called for traveling. 

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Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark sits on the bench after an apparent injury during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Boston.  (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Footage of their joint gesture went viral on social media. 

CAITLIN CLARK, FORMER FEVER TEAMMATE DEWANNA BONNER HAVE FIERY EXCHANGE DURING GAME

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Aug. 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Later in the game, when officials did call a travel on Atlanta, Clark was seen imitating the gesture again, playfully. 

The Fever went on to win the game to even the series against the Dream at one game a piece. 

The two teams will play a winner-take-all rubber game on Thursday for the right to advance in the WNBA playoffs. 

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Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever react from the bench in the second quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

But the Fever will have to do so without their two biggest stars, as they are not coming back this season. 

Still, the cameras are likely to be on the two sidelined stars often so long as the team is still playing. 

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