Caitlin Clark jokes Sophie Cunningham, Lexie Hull should 'focus on basketball' after 'mermaids' TikTok

Prior to Tuesday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull took advantage of the California weather. They posted a TikTok and asked if any swimsuit brands wanted to partner with the Fever “mermaids.”

That video got the attention of Caitlin Clark. She had jokes for her two teammates ahead of Tuesday’s matchup.

Clark encouraged any interested brands to tell Cunningham and Hull to “focus on basketball” in a comment on the video. The former No. 1 pick isn’t playing in Tuesday’s game due to a groin injury, but still very much maintains a presence around the team. That includes monitoring their social media.

Lexie Hill and Sophie Cunningham trying to get a brand deal with a swimsuit company and Caitlin Clark in the comments 😂😂

“Focus on basketball” lmao pic.twitter.com/9F7Bn7M6AW

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 6, 2025

Clark has missed the last seven games due to an injury, which she aggravated just before the All-Star Break. However, the Fever haven’t missed a beat, entering Tuesday on a five-game winning streak despite the star player’s absence.

Indiana coach Stephanie White said it’s a credit to the rest of the group for stepping up in Clark’s absence. The Fever made an effort to build around her this offseason – including the signing of Cunningham – and pointed out how the rest of the team has come together during this hot stretch.

“I think it says a lot about this group,” White said. “We’ve got a deep team. … I think I said it early when [Clark] was out the very first time, while we don’t like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise, because everybody else finds themselves. And no one is afraid to make the big play, offensively or defensively.

“We’ve got a really good group, that’s unselfish. That want to win. That play well together and for each other and when one person doesn’t have it, somebody else does. And I think it makes us really, really difficult to scout when that happens.”

The Fever continue to climb the standings, sitting in fifth place currently and only 1.5 games out of second. That should give them a shot to finish with one of the top seeds in the playoffs once Clark finally does make her return.

At this point, White said there still is no timetable for Caitlin Clark’s return, and the expectation was she would miss Tuesday’s game against the Sparks in Los Angeles. That means it’s up to the rest of the Indiana roster to continue stepping up ahead of the playoff push.

Chandler Vessels contributed.