Everyone in the arena paused as Sophie Cunningham hit the floor following a hard collision with a Connecticut Sun player, clutching one of her knees in visible pain. After the game — which the Indiana Fever ultimately won — Cunningham had her first public reaction, and it wasn’t about the injury.
Through her official X account (formerly Twitter), one of Stephanie White’s top players spoke out—not about herself, but about her teammate Kelsey Mitchell, who took charge of the team after they were short-handed and trailing on the scoreboard.
With a three-word message, Cunningham acknowledged her teammate’s exceptional performance, as Mitchell emerged as the standout player in the team’s 99–93 win over the Sun.
“KELSEY FREAKIN MITCHELL,” the former Phoenix Mercury player stated via @sophaller.
Sophie Cunningham’s injury
Around the 8-minute mark of the second quarter between the Fever and the Sun, Sophie Cunningham, in an attempt to block a pass near her own basket, was accidentally struck by an opposing player. The contact caused her to immediately collapse to the floor, clutching her right knee in visible pain.
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While there are still no clear indications regarding the severity of her injury, the player is expected to undergo further medical evaluation. However, judging by her reaction on the court, it doesn’t appear to be something minor.
Her sister’s criticism of the WNBA
Following Sophie Cunningham’s apparent scary knee injury, her sister Lindsey lashed out at WNBA officials and referees, implying that some players receive excessive protection while others do not.
Her strong message on her official X account called for better protection of the players, rather than focusing so much on penalizing those who criticize certain calls during games.
