Ah, the sweet sound of 15,000 fans erupting in applause as their hometown hero sinks a “logo-range” three. For Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie phenom and NCAA record-breaker, that was supposed to be the script when she stepped onto the court Sunday in Iowa for a preseason blowout with her new squad.
But as we all know, basketball isn’t just about buckets — it’s about chemistry, banter, and the kind of locker-room jabs that keep things real. And in Clark’s case, that reality came courtesy of teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, who took the opportunity to bring her back to Earth right after she launched a “from-the-parking-lot” triple that had the whole arena buzzing — or so she thought.
““Did it get loud in here?”” Clark asked innocently enough, fishing for a little love after swishing a 36-footer with the Fever up by more than 50.
Cue Cunningham, deadpan: ““When you scored? No.”” Hull added salt: ““No one really cared.””
And then Cunningham sealed it: ““You gotta be better!””
Clark didn’t even try to hide the side-eye. She knew it was a roast — and a playful one at that — but still, she was “looking” for validation. Iowa fans were all in. Her teammates? Not so much. Let’s just say the rook got hazed with a smile.
But this wasn’t just a courtside comedy sketch. It was part of a longer, light-hearted saga between the trio that spilled over from social media earlier in the week. Clark, never one to miss a chance to dish it back, had taken aim at a photo shoot featuring the blonde duo of Cunningham and Hull, who leaned into their twinning look with a glam Instagram carousel.
““Little less tanning. A little more bball ladies,”” Clark chirped in the comments.
Touché. And of course, Cunningham didn’t let that one slide. When Clark posted her own preseason shoot, Sophie clapped back:
““The tan will come… everything else is perf.””
This back-and-forth — playful, sharp, and entirely off the stat sheet — is exactly what makes the WNBA’s new generation so compelling. It’s not just about highlight reels and court dominance (though Clark has plenty of both). It’s the camaraderie, the chemistry, and the culture-building that turns teammates into teammates — and rookies into part of the crew.
And in case you’re wondering, yes — the crowd “did” get loud when that shot dropped. Maybe not loud enough for Cunningham and Hull to admit it, but loud enough for Iowa to remember why Clark is already a legend… even if her teammates still treat her like the new kid.
