The 2025 WNBA season got off to an explosive start during the first round of games, with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark getting into it during both teams’ respective first games. There have been many other highlights, but altercations always stand out, and that has certainly been the case in the aftermath of the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun trying to tear each other apart this past week.
Several scuffles broke out throughout the game, with Clark, Jacy Sheldon, Marina Mabrey and Sophie Cunningham at the heart of it. Cunningham’s late game foul against Sheldon started up a fiery fight, while the Fever player ended up gaining hundreds of thousands of new fans as a result. No one was suspended for their actions, although fines were handed out. Everyone might be ready to move on from the situation, but Cunningham isn’t done talking about it just yet. And she might run the risk of getting fined again.
Sophie Cunningham calls out WNBA officials for not doing enough to protect Caitlin Clark
Cunningham spoke about the game following Fever practice on Saturday, and she took the opportunity to call out the WNBA’s officiating for letting all of it happen due to their unwillingness to protect Clark.
During that, it was just part of the game. I think the refs had a lot to do with that. It was a build up for a couple years now of them just not protecting the star player of the WNBA. And so, at the end of the day, I’m going to protect my teammates. That’s what I do. I’m a team player, so it’s all good.
While Clark has been the player many believe should be protected more, this isn’t the first time WNBA officials have been criticized harshly. Their leniency when it comes to hard fouls and letting tensions boil over has been a theme for quite some time, even before Clark entered the league.
The WNBA will have to take a look at reforming or revamping their officiating crews. At least, if they want to keep Clark and the other stars around the league happy.
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