Star Sophie Cunningham will not play again for the remainder of the 2025 season. The 29-year-old guard suffered a serious knee injury during the overtime win against the Connecticut Sun, after colliding with Bria Hartley in an accidental play that left her lying on the floor.
Cunningham, who arrived in Indiana in a trade with the Phoenix Mercury, was just beginning to establish herself as a key piece in the Fever’s project. However, her season was abruptly cut short and, to make matters worse, she received a new punishment from the league while still recovering.
The WNBA fines Cunningham
Far from disappearing from the spotlight after the injury, Cunningham remains active through her podcast “Show Me Something,” which she co-hosts with TV personality West Wilson. In the latest episode, the player revealed that the WNBA fined her again, this time for her comments about rookie star Paige Bueckers, the number one pick in the 2025 Draft.
“I’m officially 3 for 3 being fined by the WNBA. They didn’t like my comments about Paige Bueckers,”Cunningham said with a laugh, assuring that she never intended to offend either the player or the league.
Cunningham criticizes WNBA referees
The controversy arose when Cunningham accused the referees of favoring Bueckers in their last matchup. Although she clarified that she deeply admires the young guard, she strongly criticized the way the officials handled the game.
“You literally couldn’t touch her, every contact was a whistle. That frustrates me because I want consistency in officiating,” said the player, who insisted her words were misinterpreted.
Sophie Cunningham faces WNBA sanctions
This is not the first time Sophie Cunningham has faced sanctions from the WNBA. Throughout 2025, she has already accumulated more than $2,000 in fines: first for a TikTok video mocking the referees, then for criticism in a previous podcast episode, and now for her comments about Bueckers.
Despite everything, the veteran remains calm and said she will continue supporting her teammates from the sidelines. “I have nothing but respect for Bria Hartley and all my opponents. My focus now is to recover and come back stronger,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever holds a solid 19-16 record and is preparing to face the Minnesota Lynx this Friday, August 22, in hopes of securing their spot in the playoffs.
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