“Brought tears to my eyes”: Fans emotional as Sophie Cunningham and Fever make special gesture for injured Caitlin Clark and guard duo
The Indiana Fever gave fans an emotional moment before tip-off against the Chicago Sky on Saturday, leaving three empty spots in their pre-game lineup to honor injured teammates Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson. Led by guard Sophie Cunningham, the gesture was a silent but powerful show of solidarity for the sidelined trio.
The tribute quickly spread across social media, where fans expressed heartfelt appreciation:
“They left empty spaces for the 3 injured players ❤️”
“This brought tears to my eyes”
“Omg I’m gonna weep”
“Just love this team. This will just make them stronger.”
While most reactions were emotional and positive, a small number of commenters speculated about potential team issues—though these claims were largely dismissed by supporters who praised the team’s unity.
Clark, the Fever’s rookie sensation, has now missed ten consecutive games due to a lingering groin injury. McDonald is recovering from a fractured foot, and Colson suffered an ACL tear—both ruled out for the rest of the season. Their absences have left the Fever without a true point guard, forcing major lineup adjustments.
After the game, Cunningham spoke about the gesture and the team’s mindset:
“We’ve been through a lot with these injuries, but this group sticks together. Leaving those spaces was our way of saying, ‘We’re with you.’”
In a season riddled with setbacks, this simple pre-game moment resonated far beyond the court. It served as a reminder that a team’s strength isn’t only measured in wins and losses, but in the bonds that hold it together—especially when adversity strikes.
For Fever fans, those empty spots weren’t a sign of loss—they were a powerful symbol of loyalty, unity, and hope for what’s to come.
