It began, as so many modern sports stories do, with an Instagram comment. On October 16, the Indiana Fever’s official account celebrated the news that its superstar guard, Caitlin Clark, would be returning to the links for The ANNIKA Pro-Am golf tournament. Deep in the comments, a plan was hatched.

Sophie Cunningham, the Fever’s fiery and famously protective guard, tagged her teammate Lexie Hull and posted a simple question aimed at Clark: “@caitlinclark22 need a couple of caddies? @lexiehulll 😏🍻”

Hull’s reply was immediate: “@sophie_cham sign us up!!!”

What could have been dismissed as a playful offseason joke between teammates has now escalated into one of the most anticipated crossover events of the year. It’s official: Indiana Fever guards Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull will, in fact, serve as celebrity caddies for Caitlin Clark at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Pro-Am in Belleair, Florida, next Wednesday.

This is not a drill. This is the new reality of women’s sports, where boundaries blur, personalities drive engagement, and an on-court “enforcer” can just as easily carry her franchise player’s bag.

For fans of the Fever, this reunion is more than just a funny offseason antic; it’s a deeply welcome sight. The 2025 WNBA season was a brutal gauntlet for the Indiana squad. Clark, the generational talent who has single-handedly lifted the league’s ratings, was sidelined by multiple muscle injuries and limited to just 13 games. Cunningham, who joined the Fever via an offseason trade and quickly earned a reputation as Clark’s on-court protector, also saw her season cut short by a devastating torn MCL.

To see these three—Clark, Cunningham, and Hull—together, healthy, and smiling is a profound relief for a fanbase that has been holding its breath. The hardwood may be off-limits for now, but the fairway is fair game.

The event itself is no small affair. This is Clark’s second consecutive appearance at the Pro-Am, solidifying her role as a key ambassador for Gainbridge, a company heavily invested in elevating women’s sports. The tournament, hosted by the legendary Annika Sorenstam, is a premier stop on the LPGA Tour, featuring a $3.25 million purse and 108 of the world’s best female golfers. Clark’s group is set to be a blockbuster, as she’ll play alongside defending champion Nelly Korda and Northwestern All-American Lauryn Nguyen.

But all eyes will undoubtedly be on the trio of WNBA stars. The dynamic is fascinating. Cunningham, in particular, became a breakout media star in 2025 for her willingness to defend Clark at all costs, embracing the “enforcer” role with a passion that both electrified fans and occasionally drew the league’s ire. Now, that same protective energy will be channeled into club selection and reading greens.

The humor of the situation is not lost on the players. Cunningham, a self-admitted golf novice, has already had a public and playful gaffe. In her excitement on social media, she reposted the event announcement with the caption “FOUR!!!!!!” Clark, ever the competitor, quickly jumped on her own Instagram story to gently correct her teammate. “Yeah clearly we have a lot to learn about golf,” Clark wrote, tagging Cunningham. “It’s fore, bud 😂😂😂.”

This lighthearted banter is the exact kind of team chemistry that builds championships. It’s a sign that despite the injuries and the “cursed” 2025 season, the locker room’s foundation is rock solid. While fans would rather see them running a fast break, seeing them navigate a sand trap together is a powerful, and hilarious, substitute.

The significance of this event extends far beyond the confines of the Indiana Fever. It is a perfect microcosm of the “Caitlin Clark Effect” and the new, interconnected world of women’s sports. The ANNIKA event will also feature celebrity caddies from other sports, including U.S. soccer legend and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Briana Scurry and NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar.

This is the Gainbridge strategy in action: creating a unified front for women’s athletics. “Having Briana and Carson joining Caitlin at The ANNIKA is an opportunity for Gainbridge to showcase the variety in our sports sponsorship portfolio,” said Mike Nichols, Group 1001 Chief of Sponsorship Strategy and Activation. “In addition, as partners with the Indiana Fever, we look forward to welcoming Caitlin’s teammates Sophie and Lexie to Tampa Bay to elevate and shine a spotlight on women’s sports.”

The message is clear: a rising tide lifts all boats. Clark’s presence doesn’t just benefit the WNBA; it benefits the LPGA. The involvement of Cunningham and Hull doesn’t just benefit the Fever; it benefits the entire ecosystem of women’s sports by showing a unified, supportive, and, above all, entertaining front.

“I had an amazing time at The ANNIKA last November and participating in the Pro-Am alongside Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam, two of the best in the game,” Clark said in a statement. “I’m honored to be an ambassador for a company… that is so committed to elevating women’s sports. I can’t wait to return.”

Now, she returns with her team in tow.

As the WNBA heads into a complex offseason with free agency and a potential league lockout looming, this event serves as a moment of pure, unadulterated fun. It’s a chance for players to heal, for fans to engage, and for the sports world to witness a new kind of stardom—one where the lines between athlete and entertainer, teammate and caddie, are delightfully blurred.

What started as a joke is now, perhaps, the most must-see golf group of the Pro-Am. And while Sophie Cunningham might still be learning the difference between “four” and “fore,” her commitment to backing up her teammate is, as always, undisputed—on the court or on the green.