The Indiana Fever just sent a message to the entire WNBA: this is not last year’s team, and they refuse to be pushed around—whether Caitlin Clark is on the floor or not.

In a preseason showdown that turned ugly, the Fever overcame a brutal start, a flagrant foul that could have ended a season before it began, and a 15-point deficit to stun the Washington Mystics in overtime. The hero? Sophie Cunningham, the new addition who responded to a body slam with a career-defining 21-point, eight-rebound explosion and a fiery competitive spirit that electrified Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Clark Sidelined, Fever Vulnerable

The drama started before tip-off. Caitlin Clark, the face of the franchise and the most anticipated rookie in years, was ruled out just before the game with a nagging left leg. It was her first missed contest in five years, stretching from her Iowa days to her rookie WNBA campaign. Head coach Stephanie White made the tough but smart call: “We need to think long term… we’re not putting Caitlin at risk for injury.”

But her absence left Indiana exposed. The Mystics, sensing weakness, came out swinging—literally. They dominated the opening quarter, outscoring Indiana 24-13, and looked ready to turn the night into an embarrassment for the home team. The Fever played flat, missing layups and looking lost as the deficit ballooned to 15.

Mystics Try to Bully – Cunningham Fights Back

Then, with five minutes left in the first half, the game’s tone shifted from physical to downright dangerous. Mystics rookie Kiki Irán delivered a flagrant foul on Cunningham that looked more like a wrestling move than basketball. The crowd gasped as Cunningham crashed to the hardwood. But the veteran forward didn’t stay down. She sprang up, got in Irán’s face, and made it clear: “Don’t you do that.”

The officials reviewed the play, assessed a flagrant one, but the message was already sent. Cunningham wasn’t backing down, and neither was her team. Moments later, Washington’s Brittney Sykes shoved Cunningham again, drawing the ire of Fever veteran DeWanna Bonner, who immediately stepped in to defend her new teammate. The Fever bench erupted. The culture had changed.

A Team Transformed

Last season, Indiana was a team that opponents could push around. Not anymore. This time, the Fever responded with unity and fire. “Mess with one Fever player, you mess with all of them,” became the rallying cry.

Coach White later described Cunningham as “a dog”—basketball slang for a player with relentless heart and fight. “She raises the level of play of everyone around her as soon as she steps foot on the floor, hell, even on the sideline. She’s definitely an X-factor.”

Cunningham wasn’t just talking. She was doing. After being targeted, she turned her anger into laser focus, attacking from every angle—mid-range jumpers, drives, three-pointers. Every time the Mystics tried to bump her, she got stronger, more determined. She finished 6-of-11 from the field and a clutch 7-of-8 from the free throw line, scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

The “Blonde Bombers” Ignite the Comeback

Cunningham wasn’t alone. Lexie Hull, coming off the bench, played the best basketball of her young career. She snatched four steals, scored 13 points, and brought the energy Indiana desperately needed. Together, Cunningham and Hull—dubbed the “Blonde Bombers”—dragged the Fever back from the brink.

By halftime, the 15-point deficit was cut to just three. The Mystics’ physical approach had backfired, awakening a sleeping giant.

Overtime Revenge

The fourth quarter was a dogfight. The Fever, powered by Cunningham’s relentless attack and Hull’s defensive tenacity, erased the Mystics’ lead. The game went to overtime, and that’s when Cunningham delivered her final act of revenge: clutch baskets, crucial free throws, and all the swagger of a player who knows she just broke her opponent’s will.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Mystics—who had tried to bully their way to a win—walked straight to the locker room, refusing to shake hands. They’d just witnessed the birth of a team that won’t be bullied anymore.

A New Indiana Identity

More than just a win, this was a statement. The Fever hit an incredible 27-of-28 free throws (96.4%) and played suffocating defense, picking up full court and never letting Washington get comfortable. Coach White praised her team’s resilience: “Our defense really gave us an opportunity to get back in the game and finish it.”

The Fever aren’t just Caitlin Clark’s team. With veterans like Cunningham and Bonner, and rising stars like Hull, Indiana now has heart, fight, and an identity built on toughness. When Clark returns, this squad will be even more dangerous.

Message Sent

Try to bully the Indiana Fever at your own risk. They’re standing up for each other, they’re not backing down, and they’re just getting started.

If you stand with Indiana, comment “Spicy Sophie” down below—because the new Fever era has officially arrived.