It is not new for Sophie Cunningham to find herself at the center of controversy. However, this latest situation caught fans off guard, especially because of the perception that she showed little interest in what her Indiana Fever teammates and friends, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, accomplished on the other side of the world.
Sophie Cunningham leaves fans questioning her attitude when asked about Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston
Some fans suggested Cunningham’s response made her look resentful about not being selected to represent Team USA at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Her game and popularity have continued to grow in recent years, with some fans even questioning why she was not considered for the roster, while others argued there were other players who deserved the spot ahead of her.
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A response that caught fans off guard
The situation came after a reporter asked Cunningham if she had watched the World Cup final to see her Fever teammates Clark and Boston compete for Team USA. Cunningham said she had not watched the game because she was busy, but the attitude behind the brief response was what drew attention from fans.
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The gold-medal game between the United States and France took place at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday. Around that same time, Cunningham was making an appearance at NASCAR’s Enjoy Illinois 300 in Madison, Illinois, giving context to why she may not have been able to watch the game.
Fans question the support between teammates
The criticism came quickly, with fans describing Cunningham’s answer as a sour response, especially given how close she is with Clark and Boston. Her blunt reaction left some questioning why she appeared so indifferent toward two of her Fever teammates and friends.
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Others, however, pointed to Cunningham’s history of defending Clark when she has been targeted around the league. For that reason, some fans simply suggested that she may have overthought the question, or that she genuinely was too busy to watch the final.
The next meeting between Cunningham, Clark and Boston is not far away, which could put some of the fan theories to rest. Indiana is still looking to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.