With Caitlin Clark still sidelined as she recovers from a right groin injury, the Indiana Fever needed someone else to step up — and Sophie Cunningham answered the call. The 28-year-old shooting guard shined in the win over the Seattle Storm, earning a new nickname from her teammates.
Cunningham played a key role in securing what became the Fever’s fifth straight victory. The shooting guard recorded a season-high 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists while shooting 5-of-6 from the field, including four three-pointers, in 33 minutes of play.
Following the victory, teammate Natasha Howard — who led the team with 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists — dubbed Cunningham “Firecracker” in a social media post.
“We step up for each other,” Howard wrote on X after the win. “We don’t stress over whose night it is; we are all there to win. That’s how we repay each other. That’s why I love for the world to see everyone on our bench is good. We enjoy fighting & have each other’s back. Sophie (our firecracker) I’m proud of you”.
This isn’t the first nickname for Cunningham, who had previously been called “The Enforcer” by fans after a physical incident in an 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun.
Late in that game, Cunningham knocked down Jacy Sheldon in response to a flagrant foul committed against Clark, sparking a scuffle that led to the ejections of Cunningham, Sheldon, and Sun guard Lindsay Allen.
Fever’s win streak snapped
The Fever’s five-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night in a 100-91 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. Cunningham couldn’t replicate her performance against Seattle, finishing with eight points, one rebound, and two assists.
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 34 points, while Howard added 17. For the Sparks, Kelsey Plum tallied 25 points and 11 assists, and Rickea Jackson also poured in 25 points to seal the win and improve Los Angeles’ record to 13-15.