Indiana Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Doesn’t Hold Back While Revealing Her True Feelings About WNBA Rival Who Seriously Injured Her
Sophie Cunningham (Grace Hollars/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Sophie Cunningham suffered a frustrating injury early on Sunday during the Indiana Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun.
In the second quarter, Sophie Cunningham was forced to exit the game when Sun player Bria Hartley fell awkwardly into her. Cunningham was standing under the basket playing defense while driving, Sun guard Bria Hartley fell into her lower left leg after making a pass.
The Indiana Fever guard, who could be seen yelling in pain, had to be helped to her feet and was later ruled out of the game.
A damning picture would soon emerge of Hartley with the biggest smile on her face as Cunningham was writhing in pain.
The 29-year-old, who recently celebrated a birthday, will have to wait until the 2026 season to play again after that devastating injury.
After Sophie Cunningham suffered a torn MCL ligament in her knee, she decided to break her silence on Sun veteran Bria Hartley falling and crashing into her.
Sophie Cunningham Refuses To Take Shots At The Actions of Bria Hartley
Sophie Cunningham (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
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Cunningham said she’s “really in good spirits” after confirming she suffered a season-ending MCL tear in her right knee in Sunday’s overtime win over the Sun.
During Tuesday’s “Show Me Something” podcast, the Fever guard recalled what happened when she heard a pop in her knee following that collision in the second quarter at Mohegan Sun Arena, where Indiana beat Connecticut, 99-93.
In the midst of doing that, Sophie Cunningham also shut down the narrative making rounds on social media that Hartley purposely injured her on a dirty play.
“No, I don’t, because I know Bria and I’m actually really good friends with Bria, and I have been waiting to get on the pod so we could talk about this because I didn’t want to tweet it out,” Cunningham said.
“I think that there was no ill intent. I think that it was a basketball play. I was just in the wrong spot at the wrong time. She fell. Like, there’s no way that she would go in there and potentially try to hurt me, and so I have nothing but love for Bria.”
Cunningham stated he told her mother to take down a tweet that was critical of Hartley.
When the subject of Hartley’s face in the photo came up, Cunningham added, “And I think that smile, it wasn’t like a [happy smile], it was like a [grimace]. One of those. So I’m totally fine [with Hartley]. It’s whatever.”
Cunningham said she will have surgery Friday, and recovery will take four months. The Fever are sixth in league standings with nine games remaining. This season has been turbulent for Indiana as they have multiple layers dealing with injuries, and now Cunningham joins Caitlin Clark on the sidelines.
Brittney Griner Finally Breaks Her Silence Over Alleged Caitlin Clark Comments That The WNBA Refused To Investigate
Brittney Griner (Photo via Twitter)
WNBA star Brittney Griner was at the center of a new debate over what she allegedly said in a game against basketball phenom Caitlin Clark.
The Atlanta Dream center found herself at the center of social media controversy last month when some fans thought she disparaged Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark upon fouling out.
The game’s broadcast focused on an upset Griner saying something as she returned to the Dream bench after fouling out of the game. While there’s no audio of this moment, some who tried to read Griner’s lips thought she called Clark a “trash f–king white girl.”
However, there’s no proof of Griner saying those actual words since others thought she stated something else.
It took weeks for someone to finally get a quote from her, and she provided much of nothing.
Brittney Griner was asked about this moment before her team’s June 15 game against the Washington Mystics and said, “I remember fouling out, being mad. I remember fouling out on, I believe it was [Natasha] Howard driving to the basket. They said I put my hand in.”
This is the first time I’ve heard Brittney Griner speak! 🤨
And this person is on a women’s basketball team? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PogH2LHf3B— Jannine.. #MagaMemeQueen ™️ 👑🇺🇸 (@janninereid1) June 15, 2025
WNBA Chooses Not To Investigate Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner (Photo By Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever’s 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta weeks ago, cameras seemingly caught Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner labeling Caitlin Clark “trash” before calling her a “f***ing white girl” in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard.
The clip of Griner speaking on the bench, lacking context, spread on social media and went viral.
Griner, who won a gold medal for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, essentially got aw@y with whatever came out of her mouth because the league basically ignored the controversy.
This incident is not the only time Griner vocalized her frustrations this season. Following another game, she stormed off mid-interview, yelling at the referees to “be f—ing better.
