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Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
Contributing Sports Writer
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It’s not been a banner week for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
It was announced on Tuesday that the 28-year-old would miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
Cunningham was injured in the second quarter when Sun guard Bria Hartley fell and made contact with her leg as she fell to the court after firing off a pass in the paint. Cunningham immediately grabbed her leg and fell to the court while screaming in pain before having to be helped to the back by the trainers.
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If that weren’t bad enough, Cunning revealed on the latest episode of her “Show Me Something” podcast that she’d been fined by the WNBA for the third time in the last month because of some comments she made about league refs showing favoritism to Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers.
“I’m officially 3 for 3 on being fined by the WNBA,” Cunningham stated. “They didn’t like my comments on Paige Bueckers. I didn’t even say anything bad. It’s insane.”
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Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Michael Hickey/Getty Images
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To Cunningham’s point, her remarks weren’t overtly negative toward Bueckers or the officials. However, the fact that was critical of the referees at all likely didn’t sit right with WNBA officials.
“I love Paige to death — do not get me wrong, I think she’s a hell of a player and like I would love to play with her one day — but those refs were giving her every freaking whistle last night,” Cunningham said on her podcast last week.
“Like, you literally couldn’t touch her, and that [expletive] is so annoying to me. And if you’re going to do that, give it to our guards. We know she’s a good rookie and she’s going to get some whistles, but like to get the treatment she got last night, was crazy.”
Cunningham was also fined $500 after posting a TikTok video criticizing the officials, subtly calling them “stupid, slow, and useless” by li-synching Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.”
She was fined $1,500 two weeks later after criticizing officials again for being too inconsistent with their foul calls.
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