{"id":78173,"date":"2025-08-18T07:27:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T07:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/78173\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T07:27:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T07:27:16","slug":"sophie-cunninghams-family-blast-mean-and-out-of-control-bria-hartley-after-she-injured-caitlin-clarks-teammate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/78173\/","title":{"rendered":"Sophie Cunningham’s family blast ‘mean’ and ‘out of control’ Bria Hartley after she injured Caitlin Clark’s teammate"},"content":{"rendered":"

By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 18:50 EDT, 17 August 2025 | Updated: 00:00 EDT, 18 August 2025 <\/p>\n

Sophie Cunningham’s sister and mom have blasted both the WNBA<\/a>\u00a0and the player who was involved in the Indiana<\/a> Fever star suffering a nasty injury on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Cunningham was taken to the locker room with a leg problem after wincing in pain on the court during Sunday’s 99-93 victory over the Connecticut<\/a> Sun.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cunningham, who has been integral to the Fever this season<\/a>\u00a0in Caitlin Clark<\/a>‘s long absence, was standing under the basket and playing defense when a collision with Sun guard Bria Hartley occurred.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hartley was attempting a pass when she collided with the lower leg of Cunningham, who stayed on the court in pain until team personnel helped her to her feet.<\/p>\n

Cunningham’s sister, Lindsey, was furious with the incident and accused the WNBA of failing to protect its players on social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She posted on X: ‘@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Sophie \"Sophie <\/p>\n

Sophie Cunningham’s mom and sister have blasted the WNBA star who injured her on Sunday<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\" <\/p>\n

She then said she was ‘praying’ for her sister. But their mom, Paula, also joined in the criticism and accused Hartley of endangering her daughter.<\/p>\n

Paula posted in a now-deleted post on X: ‘Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control’.<\/p>\n

As soon as Hartley made contact with Cunningham’s lower right leg, the Fever standout immediately grabbed it and fell to the court.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When cameras focused back on Cunningham during a stoppage in play, she was visibly yelling in pain. The Fever ruled Cunningham out for the rest of the game with a right knee injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cunningham had already been assessed with a technical foul in Sunday’s game during a tie-up with\u00a0Leila Lacan.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The possible serious injury comes at a time when Cunningham’s popularity has never been higher, after joining a roster and becoming close with Clark.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cunningham celebrated her 29th birthday on Saturday, with the Fever in the thick of the WNBA playoff race.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her first six seasons in the WNBA were arguably the first time since she started ninth grade that was not a focal point of her team, all with the Phoenix Mercury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Cunningham <\/p>\n

Cunningham was taken to the locker room with a leg injury on Sunday after falling to the floor<\/p>\n

\"Connecticut <\/p>\n

Connecticut guard Bria Hartley ran into Cunningham’s lower right leg when making a pass\u00a0<\/p>\n

In year No 7, especially during Clark’s lengthy injury absence, that was no longer the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Without two main cogs, the Fever trailed by as many as 21 against the Sun, but rallied to defeat Connecticut 99-93 in overtime. Mitchell finished the game with 38 points, leading both teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘KELSEY FREAKIN MITCHELL,’ Cunningham added on X, not commenting on her health.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Battled battled battled. So proud,’ Clark said on X after the victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Fever improve to 19-16 overall and are off until Friday, giving head coach Stephanie White a few days to assess her roster and contemplate next moves.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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