Sophie Cunningham Publicly Challenges Fever Coach Over Injury Status
Following an unfortunate preseason injury to Sophie Cunningham's right ankle, the Indiana Fever is in danger of playing their WNBA season opener against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky without one of their most important offseason additions.
If you believe head coach Stephanie White, that is it.
Advertisement
"She continues to be day-to-day," the first-year coach said at Fever practice on Thursday. "It's a long season, so we want to make sure we're making the best long-term decisions when it comes to her health and wellness."
Cunningham did not practice on Wednesday. White said all Cunningham did on Thursday was sit on the sidelines and talk.
She could hardly finish the thought before Cunningham, who was dribbling and shooting right behind her, butted in with a conflicting injury report right on cue.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
"I'm ready to play!" the 28-year-old guard crooned. "I'm going crazy."
She punctuated her plea by knocking down a corner three in front of the crowd of reporters interviewing White ahead of the showdown with the Sky on Saturday.
Cunningham's presence would be a major boost against Chicago. Cunningham averaged 10.5 points per game across her last three seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, ranking inside the top 20 in three-pointers made per minute each year.
Advertisement
At 6-foot-1, she can guard multiple positions, making her a versatile addition alongside Fever backcourt duo Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
Cunningham sustained her injury while attempting to come down with a rebound against the Atlanta Dream in the third quarter of the Fever's final preseason game. Though she sat out the rest of the game, she bounced back quickly and returned to social media in good spirits.
Depending on who you believe, her return to the court may be just as fast.
Related: Caitlin Clark Leaves Indiana Fever Practice Player Speechless
Related: Caitlin Clark Gets Big Reality Check From Indiana Fever Coach
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Nikita Kucherov voted Ted Lindsay Award winner as NHL's most outstanding player
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has been named the recipient of the 2024-25 Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league's most outstanding player according to a vote of his peers in the National Hockey League Players' Association. By winning his second career Ted Lindsay, the 31-year-old Kucherov beat out a pair of teammates in fellow finalists Cale Makar and and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. MacKinnon was the winner of last year's award. Nikita Kucherov was surprised by his @TBLightning teammates with the Ted Lindsay Award, presented by the @NHLPA "to the most outstanding player in the NHL". Watch the #NHLAwards on June 12 at 6p ET on @NHL_On_TNT and @Sportsnet before Game 4 of the #StanleyCup Final! — NHL (@NHL) June 4, 2025 Kucherov led the league with 121 points, edging MacKinnon by five to secure his third Art Ross Trophy in the process. The Russian winger also scored 37 goals in 78 games, earning a nomination for the Hart Trophy for the league's most valuable player. The Hart Trophy will be announced on June 12 prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Kucherov last won the Ted Lindsay Award, previously known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, back in 2018-19.
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Cincinnati Reds place starter Hunter Greene on IL, sign veteran lefty Wade Miley
CINCINNATI — Just minutes before a scheduled MRI, the Cincinnati Reds placed starter Hunter Greene on the injured list with a right groin strain. Greene said he felt discomfort on his last two pitches in the fifth inning of Tuesday's victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and left the game. Tuesday was his third start back from the IL, which was one of the reasons the team returned him to the IL. Advertisement 'We stayed here for a while last night, we talked to him, we talked to trainers,' Reds manager Terry Francona said. 'Since it happened once and this is twice, we've got to figure this out. And then his lower back was starting to (affect him) and we're trying to figure out if it's related. We've got to get him healthy. It was kind of an easy decision even without seeing the MRI.' The Reds signed veteran left-hander Wade Miley to fill Greene's spot in the rotation and transferred right-hander Rhett Lowder to the 60-day injured list. Sunday, Miley exercised the opt-out of his minor-league deal and became a free agent. The 38-year-old is coming back from a hybrid ulnar collateral ligament surgery, which combines traditional Tommy John surgery with an internal brace, that he underwent last May while with the Brewers. Miley made seven minor-league starts this year, including a five-inning, two-run performance last Friday for the Triple-A Louisville Bats. Because he wouldn't be ready to pitch again until Wednesday, Miley said Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told him he'd have a place in the team's bullpen, but wanted to let Miley explore an opportunity to start elsewhere. Miley said he talked to a couple of other teams, but was happy to return to the Reds. Miley's family is in Cincinnati for the season, so he spent the time 'being dad' and coaching baseball games and practice for his son Jeb. Miley was already expected to be in the Reds' bullpen on Wednesday, but Greene's injury created an opening for him in the rotation. Francona said Miley would be available to pitch out of the bullpen Wednesday, but if he didn't, he'd start Monday in Cleveland. In 2021, Miley threw a no-hitter for the Reds against then-Cleveland manager Francona's Guardians at Progressive Field. Advertisement 'It was a situation where the five starters here were throwing the ball great, and I was pretty open with Nick, like I don't want to mess with that,' Miley said. 'Physically, I think I'll be fine in the bullpen, but they allowed me to see if there were any starting jobs out there, and at the end of the day, here we are.' Miley, a Red in 2020 and 2021, was a consistent and popular figure in spring training, and Wednesday's news generated excitement in the Reds' clubhouse. 'He was in full uni at 8:30 this morning when I thought I was the only one here,' Francona said. 'It's really welcome. We've been waiting for him, there's no getting around it. He's a bright light, man.'
Medscape
17 minutes ago
- Medscape
Uncovering Unhealthy Drinking in ‘Normal' Patients
Nathaniel Chin, MD Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology; Associate Program Director, UW Health Memory Clinic; Medical Director, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Study; Medical Director, Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention Study; Medical Director, ADRC Consortium for Clarity in ADRD Research Through Imaging (CLARiTI), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin Disclosure: Nathaniel Chin, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:Serve(d) as a consultant or advisor for: New Amsterdam Pharma Inc (1-day advisory panel, July 2023); Eli Lilly Inc (2-day advisory panel, January 2025) Serve(d) as a volunteer board member for: Medical and Scientific Board, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Association; Alzheimer's Foundation of America
