Indiana Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Criticizes WNBA Referees Amid Multiple Fines

Sophie Cunningham, a key guard for the Indiana Fever, has been outspoken about her frustrations with WNBA referees, criticizing their inconsistent officiating and allowing excessive physical play, which she believes leads to unnecessary conflicts during games. Despite receiving multiple fines for her outspoken views on her podcast, Cunningham continues to voice her concerns, highlighting incidents such as an elbow by Minnesota’s Kayla McBride on teammate Lexie Hull that she felt was under-punished. Cunningham is currently sidelined due to a severe knee injury but remains active in sharing her perspectives and defending herself against criticism, including a recent social media spat with sports commentator Skip Bayless, who accused her of seeking attention. Beyond her on-court challenges, Cunningham also faced backlash from her sportswear sponsor, Adidas, for wearing a competitor’s apparel publicly, a mistake she acknowledged and has since corrected. Her candidness and willingness to confront both officials and commentators underscore her passionate involvement with the sport and her team as they push through the season without her contribution. The Fever continue to adjust to Cunningham's absence while she recovers, awaiting her return in future seasons.