×

according to WNBA insider Annie Costabile. Costabile reports that the Sparks haven’t shopped Plum, but they also can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Los Angeles is sitting at 10-16 on the year, and it sure feels like the only thing left to do this season is tank for JuJu Watkins ahead of the 2027 WNBA Draft.

Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.

Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the Valkyries

Plum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.

Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.

Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.

Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.

Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.

The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.

Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.

The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.

The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching.

#Kelsey #Plum #trade #Golden #State #Valkyries #sense #happen"> Kelsey Plum trade to Golden State Valkyries makes too much sense not to happen Few expansion teams in the modern history of American sports have ever established an identity as quickly and successfully as the Golden State Valkyries. As they debuted in the WNBA last season, the Valkyries immediately became known as a nasty defensive team that shut off the paint, pressured the ball, and got back in transition. It was a formula that helped Golden State punch a ticket to the playoffs, break the league record for most wins by a first-year team, and earn Natalie Nakase Coach of the Year honors.The Valkyries’ defense has only gotten better this season, and it’s turned them into one of the best teams in the WNBA. Golden State exits the All-Star break with the W’s second-best record at 19-8, including a recent nine-game winning streak. The Valks are No. 1 in defensive rating, and only the Lynx are within shouting distance.At this point, the Valkyries are simply too good to settle for being an uplifting story. If they’re really going to compete for a championship, they have to address the other end of the floor. Golden State’s offense is middling, ranking No. 8 out of 15 teams in points per 100 possessions. The best thing you can say about the Valkyries’ offense is they limit turnovers, jack threes, and hit the offensive glass hard. That works for the regular season, but creation is king in the playoffs, and the Valkyries still don’t have a ton of it.With the Aug. 2 trade deadline looming, the Valkyries have a golden opportunity to load up for a championship run, and there’s one name that makes a ton of sense.Kelsey Plum is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and she doesn’t intend to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks, according to WNBA insider Annie Costabile. Costabile reports that the Sparks haven’t shopped Plum, but they also can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Los Angeles is sitting at 10-16 on the year, and it sure feels like the only thing left to do this season is tank for JuJu Watkins ahead of the 2027 WNBA Draft.Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the ValkyriesPlum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching. #Kelsey #Plum #trade #Golden #State #Valkyries #sense #happen
Sports news

according to WNBA insider Annie Costabile. Costabile reports that the Sparks haven’t shopped Plum, but they also can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Los Angeles is sitting at 10-16 on the year, and it sure feels like the only thing left to do this season is tank for JuJu Watkins ahead of the 2027 WNBA Draft.

Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.

Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the Valkyries

Plum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.

Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.

Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.

Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.

Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.

The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.

Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.

The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.

The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching.

#Kelsey #Plum #trade #Golden #State #Valkyries #sense #happen">Kelsey Plum trade to Golden State Valkyries makes too much sense not to happen

Few expansion teams in the modern history of American sports have ever established an identity as quickly and successfully as the Golden State Valkyries. As they debuted in the WNBA last season, the Valkyries immediately became known as a nasty defensive team that shut off the paint, pressured the ball, and got back in transition. It was a formula that helped Golden State punch a ticket to the playoffs, break the league record for most wins by a first-year team, and earn Natalie Nakase Coach of the Year honors.

The Valkyries’ defense has only gotten better this season, and it’s turned them into one of the best teams in the WNBA. Golden State exits the All-Star break with the W’s second-best record at 19-8, including a recent nine-game winning streak. The Valks are No. 1 in defensive rating, and only the Lynx are within shouting distance.

At this point, the Valkyries are simply too good to settle for being an uplifting story. If they’re really going to compete for a championship, they have to address the other end of the floor. Golden State’s offense is middling, ranking No. 8 out of 15 teams in points per 100 possessions. The best thing you can say about the Valkyries’ offense is they limit turnovers, jack threes, and hit the offensive glass hard. That works for the regular season, but creation is king in the playoffs, and the Valkyries still don’t have a ton of it.

With the Aug. 2 trade deadline looming, the Valkyries have a golden opportunity to load up for a championship run, and there’s one name that makes a ton of sense.

Kelsey Plum is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and she doesn’t intend to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks, according to WNBA insider Annie Costabile. Costabile reports that the Sparks haven’t shopped Plum, but they also can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Los Angeles is sitting at 10-16 on the year, and it sure feels like the only thing left to do this season is tank for JuJu Watkins ahead of the 2027 WNBA Draft.

Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.

Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the Valkyries

Plum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.

Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.

Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.

Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.

Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.

The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.

Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.

The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.

The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching.

#Kelsey #Plum #trade #Golden #State #Valkyries #sense #happen

Few expansion teams in the modern history of American sports have ever established an identity…

Sports news

The WNBA trade deadline is just around the corner — coming up on Sunday at…

Sports news

WNBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and it was an action-packed couple of days…

fashion-Alizabeth

Just when it seemed like the only WNBA All-Star iteration of Caitlin Clark’s debut signature…

Fashion news

WNBA All-Star Weekend is finally here and while many of the event’s themed sneakers have…

fashion-Alizabeth

WNBA standout Cameron Brink helped debut one of New Balance’s latest basketball sneakers in May…

The 24-year-old was drafted 9th overall after a standout year at Alabama, but was left unprotected in the expansion draft when the Fire and Toronto Tempo joined the WNBA. The Fire ultimately selected Barker, who became a critical part of their early success.

She joins a long list of WNBA players who have torn their ACLs in the past year, a list that includes Chicago Sky guard Rickea Jackson and Fire teammate Sania Feagin, who tore her ACL this month.


#Breakout #WNBA #guard #terrible #injury #news #news"> Breakout WNBA guard just got terrible injury news news WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 16: Sarah Ashlee Barker #3 of the Portland Fire looks on against the Washington Mystics during the second half of the game at CareFirst Arena on July 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sarah Ashlee Barker was amid a career season when she injured her left leg in Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Wings. Two days later, the Fire announced the worst: Barker suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season. Barker was one of the Fire’s standout players, averaging 10.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 40% from three. All of those numbers were career bests and substantial jumps from her rookie season with the Los Angeles Sparks. OFFICIAL: The Portland Fire announced today that guard Sarah Ashlee Barker underwent an MRI that revealed a torn ACL. Barker will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and will undergo surgery to repair the injury. pic.twitter.com/ZNsto6JwR7— Portland Fire (@theportlandfire) July 24, 2026 The 24-year-old was drafted 9th overall after a standout year at Alabama, but was left unprotected in the expansion draft when the Fire and Toronto Tempo joined the WNBA. The Fire ultimately selected Barker, who became a critical part of their early success. She joins a long list of WNBA players who have torn their ACLs in the past year, a list that includes Chicago Sky guard Rickea Jackson and Fire teammate Sania Feagin, who tore her ACL this month. #Breakout #WNBA #guard #terrible #injury #news #news
Sports news

The 24-year-old was drafted 9th overall after a standout year at Alabama, but was left unprotected in the expansion draft when the Fire and Toronto Tempo joined the WNBA. The Fire ultimately selected Barker, who became a critical part of their early success.

She joins a long list of WNBA players who have torn their ACLs in the past year, a list that includes Chicago Sky guard Rickea Jackson and Fire teammate Sania Feagin, who tore her ACL this month.


#Breakout #WNBA #guard #terrible #injury #news #news">Breakout WNBA guard just got terrible injury news news
Breakout WNBA guard just got terrible injury news news WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 16: Sarah Ashlee Barker #3 of the Portland Fire looks on against the Washington Mystics during the second half of the game at CareFirst Arena on July 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sarah Ashlee Barker was amid a career season when she injured her left leg in Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Wings. Two days later, the Fire announced the worst: Barker suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season. Barker was one of the Fire’s standout players, averaging 10.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 40% from three. All of those numbers were career bests and substantial jumps from her rookie season with the Los Angeles Sparks. OFFICIAL: The Portland Fire announced today that guard Sarah Ashlee Barker underwent an MRI that revealed a torn ACL. Barker will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and will undergo surgery to repair the injury. pic.twitter.com/ZNsto6JwR7— Portland Fire (@theportlandfire) July 24, 2026 The 24-year-old was drafted 9th overall after a standout year at Alabama, but was left unprotected in the expansion draft when the Fire and Toronto Tempo joined the WNBA. The Fire ultimately selected Barker, who became a critical part of their early success. She joins a long list of WNBA players who have torn their ACLs in the past year, a list that includes Chicago Sky guard Rickea Jackson and Fire teammate Sania Feagin, who tore her ACL this month. #Breakout #WNBA #guard #terrible #injury #news #news
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 16: Sarah Ashlee Barker #3 of the Portland Fire looks on against the Washington Mystics during the second half of the game at CareFirst Arena on July 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sarah Ashlee Barker was amid a career season when she injured her left leg in Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Wings. Two days later, the Fire announced the worst: Barker suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season.

Barker was one of the Fire’s standout players, averaging 10.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 40% from three. All of those numbers were career bests and substantial jumps from her rookie season with the Los Angeles Sparks.

The 24-year-old was drafted 9th overall after a standout year at Alabama, but was left unprotected in the expansion draft when the Fire and Toronto Tempo joined the WNBA. The Fire ultimately selected Barker, who became a critical part of their early success.

She joins a long list of WNBA players who have torn their ACLs in the past year, a list that includes Chicago Sky guard Rickea Jackson and Fire teammate Sania Feagin, who tore her ACL this month.


#Breakout #WNBA #guard #terrible #injury #news #news

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 16: Sarah Ashlee Barker #3 of the Portland Fire looks on…

Sports news

Kayla McBride is a top 10 scorer in the WNBA, averaging 18.2 points and shooting…

preached a message of centrism in her latest profile from ESPN, knowing full well she’s actively courting one side of a culture war. Cunningham has become the collective crush of the internet’s men, feeding the flames of their desperation. The Missouri native is riding this wave as long as possible, garnering fame that eclipses her skill on the court ten times over, and seemingly has no scruples when it comes to the grift.

Cunningham has been the Fever enforcer since arriving via trade in January of 2025. It was a much-needed role, designed to send a message to opponents that they won’t get away with messing with Caitlin Clark without strong retribution. This is precisely what happened in 2025 when Cunningham first went viral for wrestling Jacy Sheldon to the ground after Clark was poked in the eye. The first run-in went viral inside the basketball sphere, but June of 2026 propelled her into the stratosphere when Cunningham argued with officials over a foul between Clark and DeWanna Bonner, resulting in Cunningham taunting Bonner by pointing at her for 22 straight seconds, becoming a meme in the process.

That was the moment everything changed. Cunningham was caught up in the moment and wanted to instigate her opponent in the process, but it took on an entirely different meaning for Cunningham’s core audience. There’s a reason the Bonner point went viral in a way the Sheldon video didn’t, because it became a catch-cry of the culture war, a blonde, white, cisgender woman taunting and infuriating a black woman. It played into every trope one side of the spectrum has about the WNBA as a whole, with Caitlin Clark being an innocent, fragile, Midwestern flower getting abused on all sides by bigger, meaner, “jealous” women who are either black, gay, or both.

Cunningham became a reflection of their online personas in that moment. The men who constantly cry foul of Clark being treated poorly now had their symbol of resistance.

The role of enforcer in basketball is nothing new, nor is the inescapable double standard surrounding it. For years we’ve seen black enforcers like Dennis Rodman or Charles Oakley get labeled as “dirty,” while white compatriots Bill Laimbeer and Kurt Rambis are praised for their “grit” and “courage.” The same happened with Cunningham during her rise to fame. The attention and endorsements ranged from an ad deal with Ring doorbell, to being added to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, to appearing on late-night TV, getting her own shoe colorway, and becoming a UFC ring girl. Hundreds of thousands of social media followers rolled in, conveying fame that far outstrips Cunningham’s basketball ability.

That’s not to say Cunningham is a bad player, because she’s been an excellent three-point shooter during her seven-year career, a solid contributor off the bench, and gives much-needed edge — but it’s intellectually dishonest to pretend that the fame Cunningham has experienced is because of her basketball ability. She is garnering a level of attention reserved only for the WNBA’s biggest stars, despite being a role player who has started fewer than 50 percent of her career games.

A brand has grown around Cunningham which may have begun without her consent, but she’s certainly stoked the flames of it. She knows precisely who she’s marketing herself to with daily thirst trap videos, the UFC ring girl schtick, turning up at NASCAR races, and taking shots with country music stars — but when asked about her beliefs she plays the role of centrist, as she did with ESPN.

“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”

This is crap. Spend even a few casual minutes looking through her social media history and you’ll find no evidence that she actually has feelings on both sides of the spectrum. In the last year Cunningham has retweeted Riley Gaines, reposted the video of Kash Patel in the locker room of the U.S. Hockey Team, and echoed numerous posts about Charlie Kirk — with the only post that could even remotely be considered “on the other side” was decrying AI data centers, which was carefully put through the lens of being a threat to farm land.

Then there’s the quote making waves on Wednesday where Cunningham took her ESPN profile as a chance to amplify a key transphobic talking point.

“I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

There’s careful wording in here too. Cunningham notably puts “girls” in opposition with “men,” a catch-cry for anti-trans groups designed to heighten a predatory nature. We don’t need to litigate the issue continually. Still, data shows that the perceived “threat” of trans athletes is overblown but often used to marginalize trans individuals as part of a systematic plan to remove their rights.

Sophie Cunningham is the enforcer for the Indiana Fever. Not just in terms of gloving up and fighting anyone who messes with Caitlin Clark on the court, but by garnering a lion’s share of the attention off of it. That might have value far beyond the superficial, but by doing this she has cultivated an effective, albeit insidious brand. One that cozies up to the very men who made fun of women’s basketball before Clark came along, the guys who shrieked every time the WNBA was mentioned or given airtime. These are the people who are her consumers, and they view her not as an athlete, but a tool — a tool of their culture war, a tool of their desire, a disposable star occupying space until the next iteration comes along.

I hope it’s worth it for Sophie Cunningham in the long run.

#Sophie #Cunningham #turned #culture #war #brand"> Sophie Cunningham has turned culture war into her brand Sophie Cunningham understands the brand business, and business is booming. The iconic and infamous finger-pointing Caitlin Clark enforcer preached a message of centrism in her latest profile from ESPN, knowing full well she’s actively courting one side of a culture war. Cunningham has become the collective crush of the internet’s men, feeding the flames of their desperation. The Missouri native is riding this wave as long as possible, garnering fame that eclipses her skill on the court ten times over, and seemingly has no scruples when it comes to the grift.Cunningham has been the Fever enforcer since arriving via trade in January of 2025. It was a much-needed role, designed to send a message to opponents that they won’t get away with messing with Caitlin Clark without strong retribution. This is precisely what happened in 2025 when Cunningham first went viral for wrestling Jacy Sheldon to the ground after Clark was poked in the eye. The first run-in went viral inside the basketball sphere, but June of 2026 propelled her into the stratosphere when Cunningham argued with officials over a foul between Clark and DeWanna Bonner, resulting in Cunningham taunting Bonner by pointing at her for 22 straight seconds, becoming a meme in the process.That was the moment everything changed. Cunningham was caught up in the moment and wanted to instigate her opponent in the process, but it took on an entirely different meaning for Cunningham’s core audience. There’s a reason the Bonner point went viral in a way the Sheldon video didn’t, because it became a catch-cry of the culture war, a blonde, white, cisgender woman taunting and infuriating a black woman. It played into every trope one side of the spectrum has about the WNBA as a whole, with Caitlin Clark being an innocent, fragile, Midwestern flower getting abused on all sides by bigger, meaner, “jealous” women who are either black, gay, or both.Cunningham became a reflection of their online personas in that moment. The men who constantly cry foul of Clark being treated poorly now had their symbol of resistance.The role of enforcer in basketball is nothing new, nor is the inescapable double standard surrounding it. For years we’ve seen black enforcers like Dennis Rodman or Charles Oakley get labeled as “dirty,” while white compatriots Bill Laimbeer and Kurt Rambis are praised for their “grit” and “courage.” The same happened with Cunningham during her rise to fame. The attention and endorsements ranged from an ad deal with Ring doorbell, to being added to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, to appearing on late-night TV, getting her own shoe colorway, and becoming a UFC ring girl. Hundreds of thousands of social media followers rolled in, conveying fame that far outstrips Cunningham’s basketball ability.That’s not to say Cunningham is a bad player, because she’s been an excellent three-point shooter during her seven-year career, a solid contributor off the bench, and gives much-needed edge — but it’s intellectually dishonest to pretend that the fame Cunningham has experienced is because of her basketball ability. She is garnering a level of attention reserved only for the WNBA’s biggest stars, despite being a role player who has started fewer than 50 percent of her career games.A brand has grown around Cunningham which may have begun without her consent, but she’s certainly stoked the flames of it. She knows precisely who she’s marketing herself to with daily thirst trap videos, the UFC ring girl schtick, turning up at NASCAR races, and taking shots with country music stars — but when asked about her beliefs she plays the role of centrist, as she did with ESPN.“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”This is crap. Spend even a few casual minutes looking through her social media history and you’ll find no evidence that she actually has feelings on both sides of the spectrum. In the last year Cunningham has retweeted Riley Gaines, reposted the video of Kash Patel in the locker room of the U.S. Hockey Team, and echoed numerous posts about Charlie Kirk — with the only post that could even remotely be considered “on the other side” was decrying AI data centers, which was carefully put through the lens of being a threat to farm land.Then there’s the quote making waves on Wednesday where Cunningham took her ESPN profile as a chance to amplify a key transphobic talking point.“I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”There’s careful wording in here too. Cunningham notably puts “girls” in opposition with “men,” a catch-cry for anti-trans groups designed to heighten a predatory nature. We don’t need to litigate the issue continually. Still, data shows that the perceived “threat” of trans athletes is overblown but often used to marginalize trans individuals as part of a systematic plan to remove their rights.Sophie Cunningham is the enforcer for the Indiana Fever. Not just in terms of gloving up and fighting anyone who messes with Caitlin Clark on the court, but by garnering a lion’s share of the attention off of it. That might have value far beyond the superficial, but by doing this she has cultivated an effective, albeit insidious brand. One that cozies up to the very men who made fun of women’s basketball before Clark came along, the guys who shrieked every time the WNBA was mentioned or given airtime. These are the people who are her consumers, and they view her not as an athlete, but a tool — a tool of their culture war, a tool of their desire, a disposable star occupying space until the next iteration comes along.I hope it’s worth it for Sophie Cunningham in the long run. #Sophie #Cunningham #turned #culture #war #brand
Sports news

preached a message of centrism in her latest profile from ESPN, knowing full well she’s actively courting one side of a culture war. Cunningham has become the collective crush of the internet’s men, feeding the flames of their desperation. The Missouri native is riding this wave as long as possible, garnering fame that eclipses her skill on the court ten times over, and seemingly has no scruples when it comes to the grift.

Cunningham has been the Fever enforcer since arriving via trade in January of 2025. It was a much-needed role, designed to send a message to opponents that they won’t get away with messing with Caitlin Clark without strong retribution. This is precisely what happened in 2025 when Cunningham first went viral for wrestling Jacy Sheldon to the ground after Clark was poked in the eye. The first run-in went viral inside the basketball sphere, but June of 2026 propelled her into the stratosphere when Cunningham argued with officials over a foul between Clark and DeWanna Bonner, resulting in Cunningham taunting Bonner by pointing at her for 22 straight seconds, becoming a meme in the process.

That was the moment everything changed. Cunningham was caught up in the moment and wanted to instigate her opponent in the process, but it took on an entirely different meaning for Cunningham’s core audience. There’s a reason the Bonner point went viral in a way the Sheldon video didn’t, because it became a catch-cry of the culture war, a blonde, white, cisgender woman taunting and infuriating a black woman. It played into every trope one side of the spectrum has about the WNBA as a whole, with Caitlin Clark being an innocent, fragile, Midwestern flower getting abused on all sides by bigger, meaner, “jealous” women who are either black, gay, or both.

Cunningham became a reflection of their online personas in that moment. The men who constantly cry foul of Clark being treated poorly now had their symbol of resistance.

The role of enforcer in basketball is nothing new, nor is the inescapable double standard surrounding it. For years we’ve seen black enforcers like Dennis Rodman or Charles Oakley get labeled as “dirty,” while white compatriots Bill Laimbeer and Kurt Rambis are praised for their “grit” and “courage.” The same happened with Cunningham during her rise to fame. The attention and endorsements ranged from an ad deal with Ring doorbell, to being added to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, to appearing on late-night TV, getting her own shoe colorway, and becoming a UFC ring girl. Hundreds of thousands of social media followers rolled in, conveying fame that far outstrips Cunningham’s basketball ability.

That’s not to say Cunningham is a bad player, because she’s been an excellent three-point shooter during her seven-year career, a solid contributor off the bench, and gives much-needed edge — but it’s intellectually dishonest to pretend that the fame Cunningham has experienced is because of her basketball ability. She is garnering a level of attention reserved only for the WNBA’s biggest stars, despite being a role player who has started fewer than 50 percent of her career games.

A brand has grown around Cunningham which may have begun without her consent, but she’s certainly stoked the flames of it. She knows precisely who she’s marketing herself to with daily thirst trap videos, the UFC ring girl schtick, turning up at NASCAR races, and taking shots with country music stars — but when asked about her beliefs she plays the role of centrist, as she did with ESPN.

“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”

This is crap. Spend even a few casual minutes looking through her social media history and you’ll find no evidence that she actually has feelings on both sides of the spectrum. In the last year Cunningham has retweeted Riley Gaines, reposted the video of Kash Patel in the locker room of the U.S. Hockey Team, and echoed numerous posts about Charlie Kirk — with the only post that could even remotely be considered “on the other side” was decrying AI data centers, which was carefully put through the lens of being a threat to farm land.

Then there’s the quote making waves on Wednesday where Cunningham took her ESPN profile as a chance to amplify a key transphobic talking point.

“I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

There’s careful wording in here too. Cunningham notably puts “girls” in opposition with “men,” a catch-cry for anti-trans groups designed to heighten a predatory nature. We don’t need to litigate the issue continually. Still, data shows that the perceived “threat” of trans athletes is overblown but often used to marginalize trans individuals as part of a systematic plan to remove their rights.

Sophie Cunningham is the enforcer for the Indiana Fever. Not just in terms of gloving up and fighting anyone who messes with Caitlin Clark on the court, but by garnering a lion’s share of the attention off of it. That might have value far beyond the superficial, but by doing this she has cultivated an effective, albeit insidious brand. One that cozies up to the very men who made fun of women’s basketball before Clark came along, the guys who shrieked every time the WNBA was mentioned or given airtime. These are the people who are her consumers, and they view her not as an athlete, but a tool — a tool of their culture war, a tool of their desire, a disposable star occupying space until the next iteration comes along.

I hope it’s worth it for Sophie Cunningham in the long run.

#Sophie #Cunningham #turned #culture #war #brand">Sophie Cunningham has turned culture war into her brand

Sophie Cunningham understands the brand business, and business is booming. The iconic and infamous finger-pointing Caitlin Clark enforcer preached a message of centrism in her latest profile from ESPN, knowing full well she’s actively courting one side of a culture war. Cunningham has become the collective crush of the internet’s men, feeding the flames of their desperation. The Missouri native is riding this wave as long as possible, garnering fame that eclipses her skill on the court ten times over, and seemingly has no scruples when it comes to the grift.

Cunningham has been the Fever enforcer since arriving via trade in January of 2025. It was a much-needed role, designed to send a message to opponents that they won’t get away with messing with Caitlin Clark without strong retribution. This is precisely what happened in 2025 when Cunningham first went viral for wrestling Jacy Sheldon to the ground after Clark was poked in the eye. The first run-in went viral inside the basketball sphere, but June of 2026 propelled her into the stratosphere when Cunningham argued with officials over a foul between Clark and DeWanna Bonner, resulting in Cunningham taunting Bonner by pointing at her for 22 straight seconds, becoming a meme in the process.

That was the moment everything changed. Cunningham was caught up in the moment and wanted to instigate her opponent in the process, but it took on an entirely different meaning for Cunningham’s core audience. There’s a reason the Bonner point went viral in a way the Sheldon video didn’t, because it became a catch-cry of the culture war, a blonde, white, cisgender woman taunting and infuriating a black woman. It played into every trope one side of the spectrum has about the WNBA as a whole, with Caitlin Clark being an innocent, fragile, Midwestern flower getting abused on all sides by bigger, meaner, “jealous” women who are either black, gay, or both.

Cunningham became a reflection of their online personas in that moment. The men who constantly cry foul of Clark being treated poorly now had their symbol of resistance.

The role of enforcer in basketball is nothing new, nor is the inescapable double standard surrounding it. For years we’ve seen black enforcers like Dennis Rodman or Charles Oakley get labeled as “dirty,” while white compatriots Bill Laimbeer and Kurt Rambis are praised for their “grit” and “courage.” The same happened with Cunningham during her rise to fame. The attention and endorsements ranged from an ad deal with Ring doorbell, to being added to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, to appearing on late-night TV, getting her own shoe colorway, and becoming a UFC ring girl. Hundreds of thousands of social media followers rolled in, conveying fame that far outstrips Cunningham’s basketball ability.

That’s not to say Cunningham is a bad player, because she’s been an excellent three-point shooter during her seven-year career, a solid contributor off the bench, and gives much-needed edge — but it’s intellectually dishonest to pretend that the fame Cunningham has experienced is because of her basketball ability. She is garnering a level of attention reserved only for the WNBA’s biggest stars, despite being a role player who has started fewer than 50 percent of her career games.

A brand has grown around Cunningham which may have begun without her consent, but she’s certainly stoked the flames of it. She knows precisely who she’s marketing herself to with daily thirst trap videos, the UFC ring girl schtick, turning up at NASCAR races, and taking shots with country music stars — but when asked about her beliefs she plays the role of centrist, as she did with ESPN.

“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”

This is crap. Spend even a few casual minutes looking through her social media history and you’ll find no evidence that she actually has feelings on both sides of the spectrum. In the last year Cunningham has retweeted Riley Gaines, reposted the video of Kash Patel in the locker room of the U.S. Hockey Team, and echoed numerous posts about Charlie Kirk — with the only post that could even remotely be considered “on the other side” was decrying AI data centers, which was carefully put through the lens of being a threat to farm land.

Then there’s the quote making waves on Wednesday where Cunningham took her ESPN profile as a chance to amplify a key transphobic talking point.

“I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

There’s careful wording in here too. Cunningham notably puts “girls” in opposition with “men,” a catch-cry for anti-trans groups designed to heighten a predatory nature. We don’t need to litigate the issue continually. Still, data shows that the perceived “threat” of trans athletes is overblown but often used to marginalize trans individuals as part of a systematic plan to remove their rights.

Sophie Cunningham is the enforcer for the Indiana Fever. Not just in terms of gloving up and fighting anyone who messes with Caitlin Clark on the court, but by garnering a lion’s share of the attention off of it. That might have value far beyond the superficial, but by doing this she has cultivated an effective, albeit insidious brand. One that cozies up to the very men who made fun of women’s basketball before Clark came along, the guys who shrieked every time the WNBA was mentioned or given airtime. These are the people who are her consumers, and they view her not as an athlete, but a tool — a tool of their culture war, a tool of their desire, a disposable star occupying space until the next iteration comes along.

I hope it’s worth it for Sophie Cunningham in the long run.

#Sophie #Cunningham #turned #culture #war #brand

Sophie Cunningham understands the brand business, and business is booming. The iconic and infamous finger-pointing…

Sports news

TORONTO, CANADA. - JULY 5: Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings shoots a free…