{"id":84143,"date":"2025-08-21T04:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T04:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/84143\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T04:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T04:51:10","slug":"sophie-cunningham-fined-by-wnba-for-third-time-over-podcast-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/84143\/","title":{"rendered":"Sophie Cunningham fined by WNBA for third time over podcast comments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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It\u2019s “third time\u2019s the charm” for Indiana Fever<\/a> star Sophie Cunningham, as she revealed the WNBA fined her again for criticizing officiating on her podcast.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cunningham, who was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season after tearing her MCL in Sunday\u2019s game against the Connecticut Sun, told her “Show Me Something” co-host, reality star and Complex journalist West Wilson, that she got fined for comments regarding Dallas Wings star guard Paige Bueckers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I love Paige to death, don\u2019t get me wrong,” Cunningham said in her podcast episode from Aug. 13. “I think she\u2019s a hell of a player and would love to play with her one day, but those refs were giving her every frickin\u2019 whistle last night. Like you literally couldn\u2019t touch her. That\u2019s just so annoying to me.”<\/p>\n

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\"Sophie <\/p>\n

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Aug. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Sean M. Haffey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The WNBA<\/a> fined Cunningham an undisclosed amount.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m officially 3-for-3 on being fined by the WNBA,” Cunningham said in the most recent podcast episode<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“For this? For the pod?” Wilson questioned.<\/p>\n

FEVER STAR SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM’S SISTER RIPS WNBA REFS AFTER GUARD SUFFERS DEVASTATING KNEE INJURY<\/a><\/p>\n

“They didn\u2019t like my comment on Paige Bueckers\u2026I didn\u2019t even say anything bad,” Cunningham responded.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cunningham was first hit with a fine worth $500 from the league for posting a TikTok where she captioned it “some officials” with lip-synced words from Sabrina Carpenter\u2019s hit song, “Manchild,” which were, “Stupid. Or is it slow? Maybe it\u2019s useless.”<\/p>\n

Then, after comments about officiating in the podcast\u2019s debut episode, Cunningham was slapped with a $1,500 fine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Sophie <\/p>\n

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) warms up before the start of the game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena.\u00a0 (David Butler II\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

“If I was a ref, I know I would mess up all the time. Like, I\u2019m not saying that your job is easy, but when it is a simple call right in front of your face multiple times, what are you doing? What are you doing?” Cunningham began in the debut episode.<\/p>\n

“They\u2019re just so inconsistent, like that\u2019s one thing. If you\u2019re on the other team, and you\u2019re going to be fouling the s— out of me, cool. But let me do it to you\u2026 I think players across the league, and new fans across the country are like, \u2018What is going on with the refs?\u2019 And I\u2019m like, \u2018I don\u2019t know.\u2019 And you fining me $500 is not going to do s—.”<\/p>\n

Cunningham was in the midst of her first season with the Fever. Her popularity skyrocketed early this season in a game against the Sun where she protected Clark after the superstar guard was poked in the eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cunningham was ejected from the game for a scuffle underneath the Sun\u2019s hoop<\/a>, and from there, her social media presence has grown exponentially.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Sophie <\/p>\n

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during an WNBA game at PHX Arena on Aug. 7, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

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Cunningham was playing on a one-year, $100,000 contract with the Fever, rendering her a free agent at the end of this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She finished the season averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game over 30 contests (13 starts).<\/p>\n

Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to\u00a0the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n