Philadelphia Eagles running back AJ Dillon is a self-proclaimed new fan of the WNBA. But it’s not Caitlin Clark who’s caught his full attention, it’s her teammate, Sophie Cunningham.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Dillon shared that Cunningham has become his “new favorite player.” This is so as she stood up for Clark during a heated moment in a game against the Connecticut Sun.
Cunningham Earns Dillon’s Respect for Protecting Clark
The moment that caught Dillon’s eye happened when Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye and Marina Mabrey later knocked her to the floor. Cunningham wasted no time stepping in. She delivered a hard foul to Sheldon under the basket. Sparking a scrum that resulted in double ejections, including her own.
Dillon said the move showed leadership and loyalty. “You got your star player… that’s our quarterback, we’re gonna make sure she’s protected,” he explained, comparing Clark’s role on the Fever to Jalen Hurts on the Eagles. “I respected that, being there for the team.”
So much respect, in fact, that he announced on his podcast, and later confirmed on social media, that he bought a Sophie Cunningham jersey. He even plans to debut it on the Fourth of July, out on a boat.
Sophie Cunningham on Standing Her Ground
Cunningham later addressed the incident, saying, “At the end of the day, I’m going to protect my teammates. That’s what I do.” She added that tensions had been building, and the WNBA’s lack of protection for its stars, including Clark, helped escalate the situation.
The response on social media has been mostly positive, with fans praising Cunningham for sticking up for her team and not backing down.
With the WNBA’s spotlight growing brighter, moments like these, and support from crossover stars like AJ Dillon, are helping elevate the profile of players like Sophie Cunningham, both on and off the court.
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