Sophie week goes from bad to worse as injured basketball star is slapped with ANOTHER fine
Sophie Cunningham's week goes from bad to worse as injured basketball star is slapped with ANOTHER fine by the WNBA
By ISABEL BALDWIN,
Sophie Cunningham's season may have been brutally cut short but that doesn't mean she's escaping punishment from the WNBA.
The Indiana Fever star, who was confirmed to have suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this week, was fined again by the WNBA for her criticism of the referees.
On a previous episode of her 'Show Me Something' podcast, Cunningham had taken aim at the 'annoying' whistle that Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers had received during a recent clash against the Fever.
'I love Paige to death, don't get me wrong,' Cunningham said on August 13. 'I think she's a hell of a player and would love to play with her one day, but those refs were giving her every frickin' whistle last night. Like, you literally couldn't touch her. That's just so annoying to me.'
And on the most recent edition of her show, Cunningham revealed that her comments had proven costly.
'I'm officially 3-for-3 on being fined by the WNBA,' Cunningham said on her latest podcast episode. 'They didn't like my comments on Paige Bueckers. I didn't even say anything bad!'
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has been slapped with yet another fine from the WNBA
The guard made comments about an 'annoying' whistle for Paige Bueckers on her podcast
Cunningham didn't reveal the exact amount she'd been fined this time, however, it will add to the $2,000 worth of penalties that the WNBA has already slapped her with.
She was fined $500 for a TikTok she posted and another $1,500 for comments on the debut episode of 'Show Me Something.'
And the Fever guard simply can't catch a break. The fine comes just two days after it was confirmed that she will miss the remainder of the season.
The Fever announced the news on Tuesday, saying Cunningham suffered a knee injury but that she is expected to make a full recovery.
A specific injury was not revealed in the team statement. However, Chloe Peterson of the IndyStar reported that Cunningham had suffered an MCL tear.
The injury took place in the second quarter of Indiana’s overtime win against the Connecticut Sun, when Cunningham dropped to the court while clutching her right knee.
She would be helped off the court with a towel over her head as she made her way into the locker room.
Cunningham, who has been integral to the Fever this season in Caitlin Clark's long absence, was standing under the basket and playing defense when a collision with Sun guard Bria Hartley occurred.
Cunningham's season was cut short by a knee injury against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday
Hartley was attempting a pass when she collided with the lower leg of Cunningham, who stayed on the court in pain until team personnel helped her to her feet.
Both Cunningham's sister Lindsey and her mom Paula took to social media last week to blast both the league and rival Hartley in the wake of the Fever star's injury.
Lindsey hit out at the league in a post on X, furiously accusing the WNBA and its referees of failing to protect its players.
Their mom, Paula, also joined in the criticism and accused Hartley of endangering her daughter.
Paula posted in a now-deleted post on X: 'Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she's plain mean and plays out of control'.
Cunningham became an important role player for the Fever after coming over from the Phoenix Mercury. She finished the season averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds a game, while making 47 percent from the field and 43 percent behind the arc — both career highs.
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