Thursday afternoon was a nightmare for the Indiana Fever. With Caitlin Clark still sidelined due to a groin injury, the team suffered a crushing 95-60 defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Mercury. Yet amid the chaos, one player stood tall: Sophie Cunningham, whose standout performance is earning widespread praise across social media.
The Fever’s visit to the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, ended in a 35-point loss where little went right for head coach Stephanie White. Beyond the lopsided score and the underwhelming play from Indiana’s offensive leaders, the team also endured two painful setbacks: injuries to Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson.
With the rotation thrown into disarray, Cunningham stepped up, leading Indiana with 18 points, two rebounds, and five assists. Her effort earned recognition from both the team and its fans.
Social media loves Sophie
The six-year veteran not only posted her best scoring performance of the season, but also shot an impressive 66.7% from the field-going 6-for-9 overall and 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.
The Fever acknowledged Cunningham’s effort with a social media post naming her the Statistical Leader of the Game-a variation on the traditional Player of the Game-and fans responded with an outpouring of support.
Comments included: “Great job, Sophie!” “You did great, Sophie. Tough team loss unfortunately,” “Nice work, Sophie. What happened to the rest of the team?” “Sophie, you got my respect.”
The former Missouri star clearly struck a chord with fans, even in defeat.
Second fine for Cunningham
But it wasn’t all praise for Cunningham. Just hours before tip-off, the WNBA announced a $1,500 fine for her recent criticism of officiating-her second penalty this season. She was previously fined $500 in late July for a profanity-laced comment about game officials.
With the Fever now on a two-game losing streak and fans rallying behind her, it’s unlikely Cunningham will tone down her outspoken nature anytime soon.
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