Sophie Cunningham denies getting punished by Indiana Fever

Sophie Cunningham (left) and Caitlin Clark. Imagn Images

Sophie Cunningham denies getting punished by Indiana Fever

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jun 13, 2026 2:39 PM ET

The Indiana Fever defeated the Washington Mystics 78-76 on Monday. Sophie Cunningham delivered a perfect cross-court pass to Caitlin Clark for the game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left.

The play drew speculations after the game that it wasn’t what head coach Stephanie White designed. However, she and her players claimed that it went according to plan. Cunningham added to the fire by posting a photo on Instagram implying that she and Clark did not follow White’s instructions.

Monday’s victory was the first of back-to-back wins for the Fever. The team beat the Chicago Sky 114-106 on Thursday to improve its record to 7-5 for the season. Clark and Aliyah Boston made WNBA history with 30-point double-doubles each. Cunningham, on the other hand, missed the matchup due to an elbow injury.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) looks on during the second half against the Dallas Wings.

Indiana Fever: Sophie Cunningham clarifies reason for missing Sky game

Cunningham released the latest episode of her “Show Me Something” podcast on Friday. She talked about the game-winning play, saying that they “perfectly executed” the exact play White drew up. She also denied that Indiana had suspended her for her post, which she thought was just a “hilarious” meme.

“Everybody thinks that I’m suspended because of this, and I’m like, ‘No,'” Cunningham said. “And so, but I know people are gonna go crazy, and it’s like… (shakes head).”

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The initial injury report listed the veteran guard as questionable before the team ruled her out closer to tip-off. The good news is the elbow issue doesn’t appear to be serious, as the team listed her as probable to play on Saturday versus the Connecticut Sun.

White moved Cunningham to the bench after the team’s third game of the season. The move aimed to provide more scoring firepower to the reserves. The Missouri product has had an up-and-down season with her production. Her contribution to the Fever as the season progresses will be key in their championship quest.

Cunningham averages 8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists through 11 games. She still plays 22.9 minutes per game despite not being part of the starting unit.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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