Sophie Cunningham’s recent injury during Sunday’s WNBA clash has sent shockwaves through the basketball community, with her sister and mother openly criticizing both the league and the player involved.
Cunningham was sidelined after a collision left her in visible pain during the Indiana Fever’s 99-93 overtime win against the Connecticut Sun.
Collision on the Court
The incident happened while Cunningham was defending under the basket.
Bria Hartley, the Sun guard, was attempting a pass when she collided with Cunningham’s lower leg.
Cunningham remained on the court in pain until team personnel helped her to her feet and escorted her to the locker room.
Family Voices Frustration
Cunningham’s sister, Lindsey, took to social media to express her anger, accusing the WNBA of failing to protect its players.
She wrote 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.”
Lindsey added that she was praying for her sister’s recovery.
Meanwhile, their mother, Paula, also shared her frustration, claiming Hartley endangered her daughter and calling the Sun guard “plain mean” and “out of control.”
Severity of the Injury
Immediately after contact, Cunningham grabbed her lower right leg and fell to the floor, clearly in pain.
Cameras captured her yelling during a stoppage in play.
The Fever ruled her out for the remainder of the game with a right knee injury.
The injury comes at a time when Cunningham has been pivotal for Indiana, especially during Caitlin Clark’s absence.
Earlier in the game, Cunningham had also been assessed a technical foul during a tie-up with Leila Lacan.
Cunningham’s Rising Profile
Cunningham has seen her profile rise in recent seasons.
After six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, where she wasn’t always a focal point, her role with the Fever has become central—particularly during Clark’s lengthy injury absence.
The team even faced a 21-point deficit against the Sun but managed a comeback victory in overtime, highlighted by Kelsey Mitchell’s 38-point performance.
Cunningham celebrated her 29th birthday just a day before the game, with the Fever in the thick of the playoff race.
Despite her injury, teammates and fans showed support on social media. Clark praised the team’s effort, writing: “Battled battled battled.
So proud,” while Cunningham herself highlighted Mitchell’s performance without commenting on her health.
Fever Look Ahead
The Fever improve to 19-16 overall and now have a few days off until Friday.
Head coach Stephanie White will use the break to assess her roster and plan next steps, including Cunningham’s recovery and potential adjustments to the lineup.
