Caitlin Clark and Teammate Known as Trash Talkers
There's no doubt that both Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever make their presence known on the basketball court. Though their styles differ, each brings something valuable to the team.
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Clark consistently knocks down shots and controls the offense, while Cunningham focuses on the less glamorous parts of the game — defense, hustle play and leadership.
Both are also earning reputations as vocal competitors. Clark, who was known for her fiery personality at Iowa, led her team to back-to-back NCAA tournament title games and has brought that same intensity to her second WNBA season.
Cunningham, meanwhile, brings a physical edge to her game. Her toughness, grit and vocal leadership make her a respected presence in the locker room.
A recent WNBA player survey conducted by The Athletic asked players to name the league's best trash talkers. Both Clark and Cunningham received a vote, highlighting their competitive spirit and growing reputations around the league.
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Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark.© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The top spot went to Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury. Courtney Williams, Marina Mabrey and Skylar Diggins also received multiple votes and are widely recognized for their relentless verbal games on the court.
Clark and Cunningham continue to be among the most talked about players in the WNBA, whether it's for their play or their personalities. Fans appreciate their energy and edge, even if opponents don't always feel the same.
Fever coach Stephanie White has a competitive practice environment to manage with vocal leaders like Clark and Cunningham, along with former South Carolina standout Aliyah Boston.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35).© Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Clark is currently averaging 16.7 points and nine assists per game despite dealing with various injuries, limiting her to only 12 games played this season. In a recent 102-83 win over Dallas, she tallied 14 points and handed out 13 assists.
Cunningham is averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as one of the key contributors off the bench. The former University of Missouri star was selected 13th overall in the 2019 WNBA draft and continues to bring toughness and energy to Indiana's rotation.
Related: Aces Coach Becky Hammon Offers Blunt Assessment After Blowout Loss to Fever
Related: Caitlin Clark Fans Are Laughing at Angel Reese After Chicago Sky Game
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Williams' practice didn't get off to the best start as his first pass of training camp was intercepted by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds during 11-on-11 drills. The competition for the starting left tackle job is one of the biggest storylines of training camp, and Braxton Jones, rookie Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie were all on the field for the first practice. Trapilo saw the majority of first-team reps -- with Jones getting some with him ramping back up to action -- as Amegadjie worked with the second team. In the battle for the backup quarterback job, it was once again Case Keenum getting the reps with the second-team offense. The Bears have said it's an open competition at QB2, so it should be Tyson Bagent's turn with the second team on Thursday. There were a few standouts from the first day of training camp, including undrafted rookie wide receiver JP Richardson, who made a one-handed reception deep down the sideline with a defensive back draped all over him. Standouts LB Tremaine Edmunds: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds wasted little time making plays as he picked off quarterback Caleb Williams during the first rep in 11-on-11 drills. According to Bear Report's Zack Pearson, the pass was right over the middle. It's a good start for Edmunds, who needs to improve after a disappointing 2024 campaign. New defensive coordinator Dennis Allen believes in his abilities, however, and has high expectations for Edmunds this year. "I'm anticipating him being an exceptional playmaker for us," Allen said. WR JP Richardson: Every year, a no-name wide receiver balls out and captures the hearts of Bears fans everywhere. That player, for the moment, is JP Richardson. The undrafted receiver out of TCU made the play of the day when he pulled in a ball from quarterback Tyson Bagent with one hand while diving to the ground. Richardson had tight coverage from Jeremiah Walker but made the play anyway. He's a long shot to make the roster, but Richardson could have more big moments during the preseason. RB Roschon Johnson: Speaking of one-handed catches, running back Roschon Johnson stood out for one of his own on Wednesday. Bear Report's Zack Pearson notes that Johnson had one in practice. Johnson is someone who didn't have many opportunities to catch the ball in 2024, as he operated in short-yardage situations. He only had 20 targets, half as many as his rookie year. Seeing him take advantage of those passes in practice is good to see. HC Ben Johnson: Arguably the biggest standout and storyline during Day 1 of training camp was head coach Ben Johnson for his demeanor and high standards for the players. According to media in attendance, Johnson was extremely vocal, yelling multiple times and stopping plays before they could even happen due to sloppy details. The most notable moment was when he pulled Williams and the entire starting offense off the field during 7-on-7s because they couldn't get set up in time. Johnson's intensity isn't going away anytime soon, but hopefully he won't need to intervene as much in the future because plays are happening the way they should. Injury updates The Bears' injury list was short for the first practice, but there was a notable name atop it. Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III, who missed OTAs and veteran minicamp, remained sidelined as the team started training camp. Burden has been dealing with a hamstring injury suffered during rookie minicamp, and we won't know the timetable of a potential return until Ben Johnson meets with the media Thursday morning. Rookie cornerback Zah Frazier also wasn't spotted on the practice field. The good news is that rookie tight end Colston Loveland and left tackle Braxton Jones did participate during Wednesday's practice as they remain in their ramp up period. Highlights Press conferences What's next The Bears return to the practice field on Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. CT for their second of four consecutive practices to open camp. It's another closed practice before fans arrive on Friday morning. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears training camp: Recapping Day 1
