ESPN's Carolyn Peck came under fire recently when she suggested the Indiana Fever might be "more dangerous" without Caitlin Clark.
Peck's comments came in early July, at which point the Fever were 9-8 on the season. Indiana had a 5-5 record when Clark played compared to 4-3 when she didn't.
After being widely criticized, Peck elaborated on her intention.
"I did not say Caitlin Clark is not Valuable," she wrote on X on July 6. "She’s a-great player.
"For those who only see Caitlin, I was complimenting the rest of the team. The Fever have several weapons. Yes, they lost last night. They have lost games w her. RESPECT to the WHOLE @IndianaFever team."
MORE: Sophie Cunningham rocks Damian Lillard's Dame X 'Dolla Red' kicks and leopard shorts look
While speaking to reporters following the Fever's team practice on Thursday, July 10, Clark's teammate Sophie Cunningham suggested that Peck wasn't entirely wrong, but with a key difference.
It's not that the team is "more dangerous" without Clark, Cunningham explained; it's that "it's almost like two different teams."
"When she is playing with us, we play a different style of basketball," Cunningham explained. "When she's with us, you play a different style [than] when she's hurt."
Clark returned from a five-game absence in Indiana's July 9 loss to Golden State. Both Clark and the Fever struggled in her return. While she missed eight of her 12 field goal attempts, the Fever were held to just 61 points.
That's something the team will need to work through ahead of their match against the Dream on Friday, July 10 — but it seems like they are more than up to the challenge.
"Tomorrow, like, we owe them," Cunningham said of the fans. "We owe everyone at this point."
Now at 9-10 on the season, the Fever sit in 7th place in the WNBA standings.
MORE WNBA NEWS:
- A'ja Wilson's status clarified by Aces amid wrist injury
- Why Angel Reese has taken to X to respond to a post from Robert Griffin III
- Caitlin Clark selection Gabby Williams in disbelief over first All-Star nod
- Fever coach Stephanie White doubles down on new look in blowout loss
- Loud music and louder snoring end Candace Parker's private jet adventures with Shaq