Sophie Cunningham’s Mom Had Strong Words for WNBA Player Who Injured Fever Star

Sophie Cunningham’s Mom Had Strong Words for WNBA Player Who Injured Fever Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Indiana Fever entered Sunday’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun in desperate need of momentum after a stretch of inconsistent play that has jeopardized their momentum toward the playoffs. Indiana had lost five of their last six games and slipped to seventh after losing to the Washington Mystics on Friday. Already without All-Star guard Caitlin Clark and other key contributors, the team faced an uphill battle to return to winning ways.

However, that challenge grew even more daunting midway through the game when guard Sophie Cunningham went down with a knee injury, forcing the Fever to continue without another experienced piece of their rotation.

Sophie Cunningham's Injury Draws Strong Reactions

Cunningham’s injury occurred in the second quarter when Connecticut guard Bria Hartley collided with her knee. The Fever quickly ruled Cunningham out for the remainder of the game, calling it a right knee injury in their announcement. The play sparked immediate concern among Indiana fans, who took to social media to express frustration and fear about the team’s shrinking depth.

Among the reactions was a strong response from Cunningham’s mother, Paula, who posted a now-deleted message on X:

“Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control.”

Prayers up for Sophie Cunningham. Sophie’s sister Lindsey and mom Paula are calling out the league for fining players for calling out poor officiating instead of protecting players, and for Bria Hartley’s history as an out of control player. They won’t delete these tweets either. pic.twitter.com/q356U3htGz

— CaitlinFor3 (@CaitlinForThree) August 17, 2025

Averaging 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists before Sunday's game, Cunningham has been an important rotation piece for Indiana this season, providing defense, toughness, and floor spacing during stretches when Clark has been sidelined. She exited the game after playing 10 minutes, registering just a single rebound before the unfortunate incident.

Her absence, combined with the injuries already plaguing the roster, threatens to derail Indiana’s rhythm at a pivotal stage of the campaign, with just nine games remaining.

Indiana Fever's Playoff Hopes Hang in the Balance

The Fever’s playoff outlook now rests on a knife’s edge as they try to stay competitive without multiple starters. With Clark still sidelined and Cunningham likely to miss time, the team will rely on Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell to keep them afloat in a tight playoff race.

However, they did pick up a huge win on Sunday despite Cunningham's injury.

With Cunningham’s injury already bad news, Fever fans can only hope for the swift recovery of Clark, whose timeline is still yet to be determined. While her return would provide an instant lift, Indiana’s path forward remains uncertain without Cunningham and other contributors. Moving forward, every performance will be increasingly critical in determining whether the Fever can hold on to a postseason spot.

Related: Concern Mounts for Caitlin Clark After Indiana Fever’s New Video

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.