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Indiana Fever-Stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham have been referred to cheerleaders after suffering season ending injuries ahead of the final game.
But they still made an effort to influence the fever’s playoffs against the Atlanta dream on Tuesday night.
During the first quarter, Clark and Cunningham made a demonstrative gesture for officials, protesting that a dream player should be called to travel.
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Indiana Fevers Caitlin Clark sits on the bench after a apparent injury in the second half of a WNBA basketball match against Connecticut Sun, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Recordings of their common gesture became viral on social media.
Caitlin Clark, previous fever -holdmate Dewanna Bonner has fiery exchange during the game
Sophie Cunningham #8 by Indiana Fever looks at during the first half of a game against Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on August 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Later in the game, when officials called a trip to Atlanta, Clark was seen mimicking gesture again, playful.
The fever continued to win the game to even the series against the dream of a game for a piece.
The two teams play a winner-take-all rubber game on Thursday for the right to move on in WNBA playoffs.
Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark from Indiana Fever react from the bench in the second quarter against Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
But the fever will have to do it without their two biggest stars as they are not coming back this season.
Still, the cameras are probably on the two sidelined stars often as long as the team still plays.
