Like many sports fans recently, Philadelphia Eagles running back A.J. Dillon has found himself tuning into the WNBA — but not necessarily for the reason most might expect. While much of the national attention has centered around Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, it’s one of her teammates, Sophie Cunningham, who has earned Dillon’s admiration.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dillon said he became a fan of Cunningham after her headline-making defense of Clark during a recent heated matchup.
The incident unfolded when Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye and teammate Marina Mabrey later shoved her to the floor. In response, Cunningham committed a hard foul on Sheldon under the basket, sparking a physical confrontation that led to both players being ejected.
Dillon, discussing the moment on his podcast with his brother-in-law, said he immediately respected Cunningham’s decision to stand up for her teammate.
“Caitlin Clark’s obviously the best player on that team, arguably the best player in the WNBA, if not the best,” Dillon said. “That’s our quarterback. We’re going to make sure she’s protected. If somebody pushes Jalen Hurts, everybody’s going to be in there. I respected that.”
He even took it a step further: after the podcast episode, Dillon posted on social media that he had purchased a Sophie Cunningham jersey. Though reports surfaced that her jersey had sold out, Dillon proudly shared proof of his purchase, saying he plans to wear it on a boat for the 4th of July.
Cunningham, who has long been known for her aggressive, high-energy style of play, addressed the controversy days later. “At the end of the day, I’m going to protect my teammates. That’s what I do,” she told reporters.
She also blamed the officiating, saying the lack of consistent protection for WNBA stars has contributed to rising tensions. “It was a build-up for a couple years now of them just not protecting the star player of the WNBA.”
For Dillon, the message resonated. “I’m a fan. I like that approach to the game — just being a tough player for the team, not letting anybody push your teammates around,” he said.
