Breaking news: Sophie Cunningham’s Knee Injury Sparks Controversy: Family Slams WNBA for Lack of Protection. ‘out of control’ star after injury !

Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham Suffers Knee Injury Amid Family Outrage Over WNBA’s Athlete Protection

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham suffered a devastating knee injury during Sunday’s dramatic 99-93 overtime victory against the Connecticut Sun, sparking outrage from her family over what they claim is the WNBA’s failure to protect its athletes.

The incident occurred in the second quarter when Connecticut’s Bria Hartley collided with Cunningham while attempting to maneuver around Fever star Kelsey Mitchell. Cunningham immediately crumpled to the floor, clutching her knee and screaming in agony. Unable to put any weight on her right leg, she was helped off the court and later ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Cunningham has been a critical piece for Indiana this season, especially stepping up in the absence of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who has missed most of the year due to injury. Despite being fined multiple times for outspoken criticism of WNBA officiating, Cunningham’s family is now taking aim at the league itself.

Her mother, Paula Cunningham, didn’t hold back on social media, directly blaming Hartley for the injury: “Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control,” she posted on X.

Sophie’s sister, Lindsey Cunningham, turned her frustration toward the WNBA: “@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,” she wrote.

The severity of Cunningham’s injury remains unknown, with an MRI scheduled for Monday. Fever head coach Stephanie White described her gut reaction to the incident with raw honesty: “Holy s—. Especially the way that she fell, and how she was holding herself, and how much pain she was in. At the time, it’s like, ‘C—.’ And then you go down there, you see her, and it’s, okay, just want her to calm down and be able to regroup. And then it turns to problem-solving. How do we put ourselves in a position to win? What do we need to do? I think that’s maybe how I survive, is going straight to problem solving.”

Despite losing both Cunningham and Clark, Indiana showed incredible resilience. Kelsey Mitchell put on a masterclass, dropping 38 points to keep the Fever’s playoff hopes alive. Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles both scored over 20, but Mitchell stole the show.

Caitlin Clark, watching from the sidelines, celebrated Mitchell’s heroics on social media: “MVP. Battled, battled, battled. So proud.” Cunningham echoed the sentiment, posting: “KELSEY FREAKIN MITCHELL.”

With nine games remaining, Indiana currently sits seventh in the standings, three wins clear of the playoff cut line. As the Fever battle adversity and injuries, all eyes will be on Cunningham’s recovery and the league’s response to growing calls for improved player safety.