Sophie Cunningham Sounds Off on Refs Giving Paige Bueckers ‘Every Freaking Whistle’ in Indiana Fever’s Loss to Dallas Wings

On the latest episode of her podcast, Sophie Cunningham sounded off on the WNBA refs giving Paige Bueckers “every freaking whistle” during the Indiana Fever’s loss to the Dallas Wings on Tuesday.

The Wings beat the Fever by a final score of 81-80 in Indiana. Cunningham was called for a flagrant 1 foul on Bueckers just two minutes into the game after Bueckers landed on Cunningham’s foot while shooting a 3-pointer.

“I love Paige to death, do not get me wrong,” Sophie Cunningham said about Paige Bueckers. “I think she’s a hell of a player and like would love to play with her one day, but those refs were giving her every freaking whistle last night.

“Like you literally couldn’t touch her. Couldn’t touch her. And that sh*t is so annoying to me. And you’re gonna do that, then give it to our guards. Like, I just hate the inconsistency.”

Amy Bonner, Eric Brewton and Clare Aubry were the WNBA refs for the Fever-Wings game. Indiana was called for 17 personal fouls, while Dallas was whistled for 19.

Even though the Wings were called for two more fouls than the Fever, Indiana head coach Stephanie White wasn’t happy with how the refs called the game.

“There’s a double standard there certainly,” White said after the Wings defeated the Fever. “But, you know, if it’s going to be physical, and you’re going to allow us to be physical, then allow both teams to be physical. If you’re going to call the holds, and you’re going to call the chucks, then call it both ways. So, I mean, I think that we’ve been pretty consistent in what we’re asking for, and I didn’t feel like it was consistent.”

The Fever dropped to 18-15 on the season after losing to the Wings. They still don’t know when two-time All-Star Caitlin Clark will be back. The Iowa product has been out since July 15 due to a right groin injury.

Meanwhile, the Wings improved to 9-24 after beating the Fever. Bueckers, the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is averaging 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks on the season. She will likely win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award like Clark did last year.