Sophie Cunningham protects Caitlin Clark after WNBA refs refuse to do their job

The most baffling referee decision of the 2025 WNBA season award (trademark pending) officially has a runaway favorite. Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye and shoved to the ground by Marina Mabrey on Tuesday and somehow received the same punishment as Mabrey.

Mabrey was allowed to stay in the game as her and Clark both received technical. It was a staggering decision by the officiating crew that, quite simply, didn't make any sense and opened the door for more chaos to ensue later in the game.

Sophie Cunningham made sure that chaos would ensue. Cunningham took the role of enforcer quite literally later in the game, causing another scuffle with the Connecticut Sun after a pretty blatant foul on Jacy Sheldon.

Sophie Cunningham responds in the perfect way after dirty Caitlin Clark play

Look, two wrongs don't make a right. We get that. But at the same time, the Fever can't just roll over and allow another team to get physical with them and there not be any messages sent back the other way.

Sophie Cunningham made sure a message was sent. With it, the Fever are now embroiled in a new rivalry that is going to turn heads any time these two teams match up.

Cunningham's hard foul on Sheldon received almost universal praise from WNBA fans online. She stood on her business and made sure that her superstar teammate was taken care of. That is what a good teammate does.

It also accomplishes more than just sending a message to the Sun. It also sends a message to the WNBA and its officiating crews. These are the kind of doors that get open when you allow dirty play to go unchecked. It's a snowball effect that is going to result in someone getting hurt. Nobody wants that.

READ MORE: Dave Portnoy buries Marina Mabrey after cheap shot on Caitlin Clark

Cunningham definitely won't be the one getting hurt, though. Cunningham received her black belt in Taekwondo at six years old. If there is a list of players whom you don't want to mess with in the WNBA, Cunningham very well might be No. 1 on the list.