Sophie Cunningham hits back at troll for calling sister a ‘bitch' in family's war of words against WNBA refs
After Sophie suffered a season-ending right knee injury in Sunday's overtime win over the Sun, her sister, Lindsey Cunningham, wrote on X, '@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you @sophaller.'
In a quote-tweet mocking Lindsey, the social media user posted, ''Protect athletes' shut up bitch,' alongside a video of Sophie's flagrant foul on Sun guard Jacy Sheldon in the Fever's win over Connecticut on June 17. Both Sophie and Sheldon were ejected from the game after a scuffle ensued.
Sophie entered the chat on Monday with a message for the X user.
'… Some of us were raised by the words of 'don't bite off more than you can chew' and some of us didn't. 'fafo,'' she wrote, along with a kissing face emoji.
A day after Monday's exchange, the Fever announced that Sophie will miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season after sustaining a season-ending injury in the second quarter of Sunday's game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
3 Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and her sister Lindsey Cunningham.
Instagram/Sophie Cunningham
The team did not disclose a specific diagnosis and said the veteran guard is expected to make a full recovery.
The Fever signed guard Shey Peddy to a seven-day hardship contract and released guard Kyra Lambert in a corresponding move.
3 Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) on the court injured in a game against the Connecticut Sun in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17, 2025.
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Cunningham fell to the floor, grabbing her knee in pain after she collided with Sun guard Bria Harley and did not return to play.
Cunningham, who has been publicly critical of the officiating throughout this season, said she was fined by the WNBA twice in July for remarks she made about the referees.
Speaking July 28 on her 'Show Me Something' podcast, Cunningham went off about the refs being 'so inconsistent,' which she said resulted in a $1.500 penalty by the league.
3 Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever smiles before the game against the Connecticut Sun on August 17, 2025 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
NBAE via Getty Images
Before that, Cunningham explained that she was fined $500 for a July 17 TikTok, in which she lip-synched to the lyrics, 'Stupid. Or is it, slow? Or maybe, useless?' from Sabrina Carpenter's song 'Manchild' — including the caption, '@ some refs.'
The Fever (19-16) play the WNBA-leading Lynx (28-5) on Friday at home and again on Sunday in Minnesota.
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