In a moment that blended grit with humor, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham gave WNBA fans a peek into the league’s unforgiving physicality, along with a viral video and some light teasing from WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark.
During a recent matchup against the Connecticut Sun, Cunningham collided face-first with Jacy Sheldon in a play that left her dazed and down on the floor.
The result? A chipped front tooth and a quick exit from the court to receive treatment. While many might have chosen to quietly recover, the seven-year veteran turned the moment into a self-deprecating joke.
Posting a video on TikTok, Cunningham captioned it: “Tell me you play in the W without telling me you play in the W.” The clip starts off like a typical transition video but quickly shifts to her smiling and revealing a clearly chipped front tooth.
The reveal, which had originally been intended for a private audience, gained traction after Clark shared a comparison on her Instagram story, likening Cunningham‘s new look to Jim Carrey’s character in Dumb and Dumber.
Teammates Laugh, But the Pain Is Real
Clark’s light-hearted jab didn’t go unnoticed, and Cunningham was quick to repost it, showing she was game for the fun. But beneath the humor is a bigger conversation: just how physically demanding the WNBA is.
Cunningham, now in her first season with Indiana after six years with the Phoenix Mercury, isn’t new to the rough side of the game. This isn’t the first time she’s needed dental work due to contact on the court, and she has even joked in the past that she might need to spend more time in the weight room.
“The nails. The tooth. I cannot,” one fan wrote in the comments of her TikTok video, which drew both sympathy and praise for her toughness. Another added, “Still and will always be a goddess. Legit perfection! Hope your ankle heals up.”
Meanwhile, Clark‘s joke landed well with fans and teammates alike, adding a touch of levity during a physically demanding stretch of the season for the Fever.
The Rookie of the Year has quickly become one of the league’s biggest stars-and a locker room presence who knows how to keep things light.
The incident also coincides with a growing awareness of how physical the women’s game really is. New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu has spoken out about how fouls are often judged differently in men’s and women’s basketball, with the latter arguably allowing more contact. The chipped tooth-and Cunningham‘s dazed exit-only underscores her point.
As the Fever prepare for their next game at home, fans are wondering whether Cunningham will return to the court with a fixed smile-or let the battle scar remain as a symbol of the toughness it takes to thrive in the WNBA.
Either way, she’s gained a new badge of honor-and perhaps a few new fans.
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