Contributing Sports Writer<\/p>\n
news article<\/p>\n
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.<\/p>\n
\nShare<\/p>\n
\u2713 Link copied to clipboard!<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Listen<\/p>\n Translate<\/p>\n English (Original) <\/p>\n Espa\u00f1ol\u4e2d\u56fd\u4ebaFran\u00e7aisDeutschPortuguese\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0940<\/p>\n Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies\u2014please refer to the original content.<\/p>\n Read original<\/a><\/p>\n Speed: 0.5xSpeed: 1xSpeed: 1.5xSpeed: 2x<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.<\/p>\n \u2716 <\/p>\n It’s not been a banner week for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.<\/p>\n It was announced on Tuesday that the 28-year-old would miss the rest of the season<\/a> after suffering a leg injury against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n More WNBA: Caitlin Clark Sends Heartfelt Message to Injured Fever Teammate Sophie Cunningham<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “I’m officially 3 for 3 on being fined by the WNBA,” Cunningham stated<\/a>. “They didn’t like my comments on Paige Bueckers. I didn’t even say anything bad. It’s insane.”<\/p>\n More WNBA: Sky Coach Makes Major Angel Reese Injury Announcement<\/a><\/p>\n More WNBA: Caitlin Clark Makes Bold WNBA MVP Declaration After Fever-Sun<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “I love Paige to death \u2014 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 \u2014 but those refs were giving her every freaking whistle last night,” Cunningham said<\/a> on her podcast last week.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Cunningham was also fined $500 after posting a TikTok<\/a> video criticizing the officials, subtly calling them “stupid, slow, and useless” by li-synching Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.”<\/p>\n She was fined $1,500 two weeks later after criticizing officials again for being too inconsistent with their foul calls.<\/p>\n![\"Cunningham\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755684130_977_cunningham.jpg\")
\nSophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
\nSophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
\nMichael Hickey\/Getty Images<\/p>\n