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LOOK: Sophie Cunningham Gets Security Guard Hand Below Waist Level During Fever-Sun Altercation, Sparking Online Frenzy 2 Jun 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) get into a fight in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Sophie Cunningham ‘Unseen Footage’ Being Held Back During Fever-Sun Altercation Surfaces

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 11:47 AM ET

Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham was seen in a new angle of the recent altercations he had with players of the Connecticut Sun.

In a new video , Sophie Cunningham was seen attempting to run from their bench during the early seconds of the heated exchange in the game, but was initially stopped by the Indiana Fever’s coaching staff.

Following the incident, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White expressed her disappointment over the officiating.

“I think it was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing,” White said, via Indy Star. “When officials don’t get control of the ball game, when they allow that stuff to happen … it’s been happening all season long, all season long. It’s not just this game.

Angle of Sophie Cunningham being held back on the bench during this altercation last night.

(via @nosyone4)

pic.twitter.com/KICCF17OEG https://t.co/qf1R9G0ylz

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 19, 2025

White reiterated that what happened is part of the fierce competition, and that things naturally get physical, and that she has expected things to escalate during the game.

“I started talking to officials in the first quarter, and we knew this was gonna happen. You knew this was gonna happen. They gotta get control of it. They gotta be better. They gotta be better.”

LOOK: Sophie Cunningham 'Unseen Footage' Being Held Back During Fever-Sun Altercation Surfaces 5 New York Liberty guard Marine Johannès (23) attempts a 3-pointer against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) on Saturday, June 14, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Sophie Cunningham was slapped with a $400 fine by the WNBA, something that Caitlin Clark, ahead of the official announcement, vowed to cover for her teammate.

Sophie Cunningham earns Fans’ Admiration Over Recent Altercation

In the closing seconds of Indiana’s convincing 88–71 victory over Connecticut, the game between the Fever and the Sun took a heated turn as Jacy Sheldon darted down the court for a layup, Sophie Cunningham came barreling in, grabbing her midair and yanking her to the floor. What began as a hard foul quickly escalated into a full-blown scrum that even spilled into the front-row fans’ laps.

LOOK: Sophie Cunningham 'Unseen Footage' Being Held Back During Fever-Sun Altercation Surfaces 6 Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) celebrates her teammates Tuesday, June 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Sheldon and Lindsay Allen both charged at Cunningham in the heat of the moment, and before anyone knew it, all three were headed to the locker room—Cunningham picked up a flagrant-2, while Sheldon and Allen were handed technicals for their part in the fracas.

It wasn’t the first bump in the night. In the third quarter, Jacy Sheldon had already poked Caitlin Clark in the eye, touching off a quick shoving match among several players. Many saw Cunningham’s midair takedown as payback for that earlier incident. Sun coach Rachid Meziane didn’t mince words—he called the play “completely stupid” and “disrespectful.”

LOOK: Sophie Cunningham Gets Security Guard Hand Below Waist Level During Fever-Sun Altercation, Sparking Online Frenzy 3 Indiana Fever forward Damiris Dantas (12) and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) react to the action Tuesday, June 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Following the incident, social media erupted in Cunningham’s defense and applauded her for standing up for a teammate, leading to a sold-out run on her jerseys and a tidal wave of new followers online. Though the league has announced she’ll face a fine, Cunningham dodged a suspension. All this has only cemented Sophie Cunningham’s reputation as the Fever’s new enforcer and a teammate who got Clark’s back.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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