The Indiana Fever are running it back.
After re-signing guards Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, the franchise is also welcoming back Sophie Cunningham, the team announced Sunday. It’s a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Cunningham, 29, was a valuable glue player for Indiana across 30 games, averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 43.2 percent from the field. She served as something of a Caitlin Clark protector last season.
“We are thrilled to have Sophie back with the Fever and are grateful for her commitment to return and build on what we started a year ago. Not only is Sophie one of the best three-point shooters in the league, but she is an exceptional teammate, both on and off the court,” COO and General Manager Amber Cox said. “She plays with infectious energy that impacts not only our team, but our fanbase as well.”
Cunningham, Hull and Clark quickly became close — with fans dubbing the trio “Tres Leches” — and Cunningham came to the former Iowa star’s defense in a viral incident against the Connecticut Sun in June.
After Clark was poked in the eye by Jacy Sheldon – and shoved to the ground by Marina Mabrey in a subsequent skirmish — Cunningham got payback, yanking Sheldon to the ground during a garbage-time layup attempt.
Cunningham, who posed for this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, was assessed a flagrant two foul for the play and ejected from the contest with the Fever up big and under a minute remaining.
The Fever have been busy adding firepower around Clark this offseason, as Monique Billings and Ty Harris have also joined in free agency.
Mitchell, meanwhile, was given a one-year, $1.4million supermax contract after averaging 20.2 points and being named to the All-WNBA First Team last year.
Clark had a difficult sophomore season as injuries limited her to just 13 games.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year also saw her scoring drop to 16.5 points a night, and she shot just 27.9 percent from three. The Fever reached the WNBA semifinals without Clark, losing to the Aces in five games.
Following a long rehab stint, though, she said in a March interview with NBC that she feels “really healthy”
She’ll look to lead the Fever to an opening night win against the Dallas Wings on May 9.
