Revenge games always come with a little extra fire, and Sophie Cunningham brought her best when she faced her former team, the Phoenix Mercury. In her most dominant showing of the season, the Indiana Fever guard poured in 18 points, her highest single-game total this year, against the very franchise that traded her away just months ago.
The performance wasn’t just productive; it was personal.
Traded in a blockbuster three-team deal during the offseason, Cunningham was sent from Phoenix to Indiana, with Satou Sabally landing in Phoenix and NaLyssa Smith along with a 2025 draft pick heading to the Dallas Wings.
While the deal was strategic from all sides, Cunningham seemed to carry an emotional edge heading into this matchup, and she didn’t waste the opportunity to make a statement.
Fired up and focused
Playing on the road at PHX Arena, Cunningham showed up with purpose and swagger. She led the Fever in scoring, one of just two players on her squad to hit double digits, and did so with confident shot-making, vocal leadership, and visible intensity. Her energy was contagious, even if it didn’t ultimately lead to a win for Indiana.
What made the performance even more memorable was how well it contrasted with her earlier outings this season. Prior to this game, Cunningham had been averaging modest numbers, working her way into rhythm with her new team. But against Phoenix, the six-foot-one guard looked like the best version of herself – aggressive, animated, and in complete control.
The Phoenix crowd didn’t hold back either. Despite now wearing different colors, Cunningham was met with a tribute video and a warm ovation from the fans she once thrilled in Mercury blue. The mutual respect was clear, at least between her and the stands.
However, not all reunions were as warm. Cunningham’s visible intensity appeared especially directed toward Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts, who took over the team after her departure. Her animated celebrations and on-court gestures after hitting key shots hinted that this was more than just another game.
Whether it was motivation from being traded, proving a point to her former coach, or simply rising to the moment, Cunningham delivered the kind of game that athletes circle on the calendar.
She may no longer be a Mercury player, but Cunningham made sure her former team, and their coach, wouldn’t forget her anytime soon.
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