Sophie Cunningham’s exclusion for the remainder of the season devastated Fever fans, and the star’s family was left fuming at the WNBA rival.
Sophie Cunningham is officially out for the rest of the season, which was heartbreaking news for Indiana Fever fans to wake up to this week. The veteran guard has been diagnosed with a season-ending injury after going down clutching her knee during Sunday’s thrilling overtime matchup with the Connecticut Sun. The timing couldn’t be more inconvenient for a team already dealing with a long list of setbacks.
The loss of Cunningham is felt on several levels. She has been one of Indiana’s most reliable players on the court, averaging nearly nine points per game while distributing her shooting and adding toughness on defense. Off the court, she has been an outspoken leader, a source of enthusiasm, and, in many respects, a cultural pillar for a young squad that is still figuring out how to win.
The way her family has reacted, however, has caused even more pain. Cunningham’s family members were reportedly incensed about the play that caused her injury and felt that Connecticut’s Bria Hartley should have received a more severe punishment for her contact.
A family member even took to social media to criticize the league for what they perceived to be inconsistent officiating and inadequate player protection. Their annoyance struck a chord with Fever supporters, many of whom agreed that celebrities like Cunningham ought to be treated better.
The setback adds to Indiana’s already terrible injury season. Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald have long since been ruled out, and rookie sensation Caitlin Clark is still out due to a groin injury. It seems like something else takes the wind out of the Fever’s sails every time they get a spark, like their unlikely 21-point comeback against the Sun.
Nevertheless, this group has an odd resilience. The way the bench exploded after every basket, Kelsey Mitchell’s career-high 38 points that evening, and their perseverance in getting through overtime without two of their top backcourt players were all examples of it.
However, losing Cunningham means more than simply losing a defender or shooter. A heartbeat is being lost. With nine games remaining, Indiana must fight to not only qualify for the playoffs but also to maintain hope in a season that has tried them to the limit.
