'Unreal': Sophie Cunningham Loses It Over Aari McDonald’s Cold-Blooded Stepback Vs Aces

The shot trimmed the Aces’ lead from two to one with 33 seconds on the clock and shattered the home crowd’s hopes in an instant. McDonald dribbled, stepped back, and launched—nothing but net, and it stunned Indiana’s building silent.

Sophie Cunningham’s simple reaction called the moment what it was: extraordinary. No hype. No spin. Just pure acknowledgment.

Cunningham isn’t shy with praise—just ask her fans. But even she paused and let McDonald’s highlight reel speak for itself.

That moment wasn’t about stats. It was about recognition—when a teammate shines, Cunningham delivers respect without missing a beat. That’s rare. That’s real.

The Fever may hold McDonald close to their vest, but Cunningham letting loose shows exactly what kind of gratitude flows through that locker room. When one teammate makes magic happen, the rest lift her up.

In a league where everything can feel scripted, that clip felt unscripted. And Sophie Cunningham’s two-word reaction—”Unreal”—said it all.

Sophie Cunningham Wasn’t the Only One Awed by McDonald’s Shot

When Sophie Cunningham called Aari McDonald’s shot “Unreal,” she wasn’t alone in her awe.

Even NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton reacted with a tweet that summed it up perfectly: “I need an Aari McDonald jersey.” That reaction backed up Cunningham’s respect and showed how McDonald’s performance grabbed national attention.

McDonald’s buzzer-beater definitely won the game. It also injected momentum into a Fever team still adjusting after Caitlin Clark’s absence. Head coach Stephanie White praised McDonald postgame, saying, “You came in and you impacted the ball game. You settled us down… your defense set the tone.”

That praise makes Cunningham’s “Unreal” even richer—it came after genuine leadership steps and not just scoring.

Sophie Cunningham doesn’t throw shoutouts that much. But when she does, it means a lot. And when others from outside the WNBA—like Haliburton—chime in, it shows the performance transcends league lines.

Sophie Cunningham may spotlight teammates often, but after that game, she was echoing what everyone was thinking: Aari McDonald wasn’t just clutch. She was unforgettable.

One clutch move from a clutch player that sent waves across social media.