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Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham got the second ejection of her career after getting involved in a fight with the Connecticut Sun’s Jacy Sheldon during their June 17 match, leading to the veteran guard getting ejected from the game. Soon, Cunningham subtly revealed the motive behind the confrontation: to defend her teammate, Caitlin Clark, who also got into a heated brawl with Sheldon early in the game.
The Fever-Sun clash became full of buzz when Sheldon poked Clark in the eye during the third quarter, in which shovings followed. Things escalated when Marina Mabrey blindsided the superstar guard. All players involved, including Tina Charles, got heavy fouls but no ejections.
However, the decision enraged Indiana’s roster and many fans, believing that Clark got deliberately hurt and that Connecticut’s roster should’ve had heavier penalties. Sophie Cunningham wouldn’t let this slide, and despite the Fever’s huge lead with seconds left in the game, she brutally stopped Sheldon from making a fastbreak.
After the Fever’s Sunday team practice, Cunningham made her feelings clear about paying back her teammate through physicality.
“I’m just gonna be me. I don’t go in there trying to predetermine anything. I’m dialed in. I need to focus on hitting my shots, making sure I’m executing the schemes right. I’m not focused on extracurricular activities,” Cunningham said [9:20]. “You know what? During that, it was just part of the game. I think the refs had a lot to do with that.”
“It was a buildup for a couple of years now of them just not protecting the star player of the WNBA. And so at the end of the day, I’m gonna protect my teammates. That’s what I do. And I’m a team player.”
The incident involving Clark was just part of the ongoing complaints by fans and teammates like Sophie Cunningham on the opponents’ alleged tough targeting of the Fever superstar.
Sophie Cunningham obtained massive following after ejection
While Sophie Cunningham ‘s ejection garnered controversy, many fans saw her actions as a fierce defense of her teammate, Caitlin Clark. In turn, the former Phoenix Mercury garnered tons of fans, seeing a massive boost in her social media followers after the game against Connecticut.
In reference, Sophie Cunningham’s TikTok account has now surpassed 1 million followers, a vast increase from having ~300k followers before the incident. Cunningham’s Instagram account also gained an additional 300k followers.
Regardless of the followers’ surge, it’s undeniable that Sophie Cunningham and Clark have been close friends since the former arrived in Indiana. The recent confrontation just highlighted their bond with more fans.
More must-reads:
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Chicago Sky Coach Makes Immediate Decision After Roster Move
The Chicago Sky sit in 11th place in the league standings for the 2025 WNBA season after Tuesday's loss to the 21-4 Minnesota Lynx. The 91 to 68 defeat dropped the Sky to a 7-16 record this season. Chicago was without starting wings Ariel Atkins and Michaela Onyenwere on Tuesday, both of whom were injured before the All-Star break. Starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot also suffered a season-ending injury in early June. Because the team was down three players, they qualified for a hardship contract. General manager Jeff Pagliocca added WNBA champion guard Marquesha Davis earlier this week, a first-round pick by the New York Liberty in 2024. Davis was unable to play on Tuesday against Minnesota, as the team did not go through the proper channels to get her cleared. However, she will be available to make her Sky debut on Thursday against the 14-10 Seattle Storm. Before Thursday's game, Davis met with the media in Chicago and discussed how things have been going since being acquired earlier in the week. Head coach Tyler Marsh also spoke to the press and told them that he was making an immediate decision to insert Davis into the rotation against Seattle, according to Chicago State of Mind Sports. Two-time All-Star forward Angel Reese is questionable for the game against the Storm as she deals with a back injury. The second-year player has been averaging 13.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 2025. Thursday's game will tip off at Wintrust Arena in Chicago at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Pelicans' exec makes team's stance on Zion Williamson crystal clear
It’s wild how quickly the NBA narrative can flip. A year ago, Zion Williamson was in every trade rumor possible. People were questioning his health, his work ethic, even his future in New Orleans. And the Pelicans? They didn’t really deny any of it. It felt like both sides were one step away from walking. But things have shifted this offseason — quietly, but clearly. The Pelicans could’ve pulled the plug. Zion’s contract gave them outs, and the trade market might’ve still brought back some real value. Instead, they stuck with him. And based on what one of their own just said, they’re not just keeping him around — they’re still betting big on him. In a recent interview with Spotrac’s Keith Smith, an anonymous Pelicans executive made it crystal clear. “Zion is still our guy. We’re all in on him. We think he’s going to have a huge year. We’ve had some bad injury luck and some things that just haven’t worked out. This partnership hasn’t even come close to reaching our best yet.” That’s not something you say if you’re halfway in. They backed it up with their offseason moves, too. They traded CJ McCollum and brought in Jordan Poole, a high-usage creator who can take pressure off Zion. They drafted Jeremiah Fears with the No. 7 pick, a dynamic young guard. They added Kevon Looney, a reliable veteran who brings playoff experience and toughness. Those aren’t tear-it-down moves — those are “let’s try this another way” moves. Of course, Zion’s health is still the question. That never really goes away. He played just 30 games last season, but in those games he looked solid: 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per night on 56.7 percent shooting. The explosiveness was there. The playmaking was sharp. And the hope for New Orleans is that this time, he can finally sustain it. What’s interesting is how the front office is trying to create a better environment around him. Joe Dumars has stepped in to lead basketball operations and is reportedly building a closer relationship with Zion — dinners, real conversations, not just surface-level stuff. It feels like, for once, the team is trying to meet him halfway. It’s a risk, sure. But it’s a calculated one. The West is brutal and the margin for error is thin. Still, if Zion can stay healthy for 60 games, and if Poole finds a rhythm and guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones keep improving — this team has a shot to be in the mix. The quote from the exec says it all. They could’ve hit reset, moved on, cleaned house. But they didn’t. They’re still in. And now it’s on Zion to hold up his end of the deal. After everything that’s happened, they’re telling the world they still believe. Now it’s time to find out if they’re right.
Jayson Tatum Wanted To Leave The Boston Celtics Because Of One Player
Back in 2017, the Boston Celtics made two major moves that would define their future, though not in the way anyone expected. First, they used the No. 3 overall pick to draft Jayson Tatum, a polished scorer from Duke. Then, in free agency, they signed All-Star forward Gordon Hayward to a lucrative deal. At the time, Hayward was entering his prime and coming off an All-Star season with the Utah Jazz. Tatum was the rookie with promise, while Hayward was expected to be the go-to forward. But fate intervened, and everything changed on opening night. Years later, on FanDuel TV, Hayward opened up about the dynamic between him and Tatum. He acknowledged that Tatum felt like he might have to leave the Celtics because of him. “I think, like I said, I was coming off of, I was an All-Star, felt like I was at the brim of my career. Like, we played the same position." "Coach Stevens probably would have been drawing plays for me instead of drawing plays for JT or JB or whoever else me or Kyrie. And, you know, because I got hurt, now he's getting the ball, he's getting more opportunities, and that sometimes is all it takes.” Hayward suffered a devastating leg injury just five minutes into his Celtics debut, an injury so gruesome that it instantly changed the Celtics’ hierarchy. Jayson Tatum was thrust into the spotlight as a rookie and seized the opportunity, eventually helping Boston reach the Eastern Conference Finals that same season. In short, Hayward admitted that if he hadn’t gotten hurt, Tatum wouldn’t have had the ball in his hands as often, or as soon. The offensive pecking order would’ve prioritized Hayward, a proven star with experience under Brad Stevens from their Butler days, over the unproven rookie. From Tatum’s perspective, that likely raised serious questions about his future. If the Celtics were building around Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and later Kemba Walker, where did Tatum fit in? It wasn’t personal, it was positional. Tatum and Hayward both operated as wings who needed touches and space to create. There’s only so much oxygen in an NBA offense, and Hayward being healthy might’ve delayed Tatum’s breakout. That tension, while never explosive, was quietly real. And according to Hayward’s comments, it was enough for Tatum to contemplate leaving Boston altogether early in his career. Thankfully for the Celtics, Hayward’s injury opened the door for Tatum, and Tatum never looked back. He’s now a six-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection, and the face of the franchise. He helped lead Boston to an NBA championship and is widely viewed as one of the league’s top five players. Though he is currently recovering from an Achilles tear suffered during the playoffs, Tatum’s place as the Celtics’ cornerstone is unquestioned. Ironically, what once seemed like a roster logjam may have been the unexpected twist that launched a superstar’s rise.
Green Bay Packers’ Top Candidate May Be One of Jordan Love’s Top Weapons
The Green Bay Packers have a logjam at wide receiver. Adding rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams to quarterback Jordan Love’s arsenal infuses a big-play element to head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense, while Mecole Hardman is a veteran presence at an otherwise young position group with untapped potential but limited big-game experience. As the 2025 regular season approaches, the Packers might be a popular phone call for general managers of teams aiming to bolster their receiving corps and upgrade the offense. Could Packers’ Romeo Doubs be a Top Trade Candidate? With training camp underway, Romeo Doubs sits atop the depth chart but could quickly be pushed by Golden for the top spot. In addition to Hardman, Golden, Williams, and Doubs, playmakers like Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed will also be pushing for snaps and a consistent role in the passing game. According to Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Bradley Locker, the competition and infusion of talent at receiver could make Doubs one of the top trade candidates across the NFL. “Since being taken in the fourth round in 2022,” Locker writes for PFF. “Doubs has become a solid option for Green Bay. Last season, he turned in a 71.0 PFF receiving grade with 1.62 yards per route run. However, his drop rate has sat above 9% in two of his three seasons, and health has also been an issue, with Doubs logging less than 700 snaps in two of three campaigns. “Golden figures to be Jordan Love’s WR1, especially with Christian Watson sidelined yet again. Green Bay also added rookie Savion Williams to the mix, which suggests that the team wasn’t satisfied with its receiver play from a year ago. Will the Packers finally move on from one of Doubs, Jayden Reed or Dontayvion Wicks, each of whom has shown flashes but not developed in full? The most likely would figure to be Doubs, who is effectively playing on a one-year deal in 2025.” If Golden makes the immediate leap and flashes like a No. 1 wide receiver, GM Brian Gutekunst and the Packers could bit sitting on one of the most coveted receivers for contending teams aiming to fill a need. Doubs has caught 147 passes for 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns through his first three seasons as one of Love’s top targets. If he’s supplanted by Golden, his next catch may come from elsewhere.
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