Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham. Photo credits: Imagn

'You Aren’t Gonna Beat A Missouri Country Girl In A Fight': Sophie Cunningham’s Sister Speaks On Fever-Sun Altercation

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 2:02 PM ET

Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever had an unforgettable brawl against the Connecticut Sun in their last showdown. Despite the Fever’s hard-fought 88-71 victory over the Sun, things ended on a sour note. Cunningham wrapped up Sun guard Jacy Sheldon on a drive to the basket, pulling her to the ground.

Things escalated quickly by igniting a scuffle that quickly drew in players from both teams. Cunningham’s sister, Lindsey, took to social media to react to the brawl. She shared a couple of quotes from people who supported her sister. One particular quote highlighted Sophie being a Missouri girl.

“You aren’t gonna beat a Missouri country girl in a fight,” Lindsey wrote.

Lindsey also shared another story of Sophie Cunningham wearing a taekwondo uniform when she was six years old. Sophie is a black belt in taekwondo, and it turns out that the whole Cunningham family were sportspeople.

Lindsey played basketball in Missouri while Lindsey played basketball for the Missouri Tigers. Their father, Jim Cunningham, was also a part of the football team, and their mother was a part of the track team.

Sophie showed interest in basketball after she became a blackbelt in taekwondo at a young age.

WNBA Fans Are Unhappy About Sophie Cunningham Avoiding A Suspension

The WNBA’s decision not to suspend Sophie Cunningham sparked widespread backlash among fans and analysts alike. Similarly, Marina Mabrey of the Sun, who had earlier shoved Fever rookie Caitlin Clark to the ground, received a fine.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) celebrates a 3-pointer Saturday, June 14, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the New York Liberty, 102-88.

Mabrey’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant 2, but she too avoided suspension. The league’s leniency has ignited a firestorm on social media, with many fans expressing frustration and disbelief.

Some fans accused the league of protecting Sophie Cunningham despite her aggressive play style. As for Sophie, she responded to the criticism with a cryptic Instagram post showing herself in her Fever jersey with arms outstretched.

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.

Fever head coach Stephanie White also publicly criticized the officiating. She mentioned that the league’s inability to control escalating tensions needs to be called out better. For now, the Indiana Fever guard seems to have moved on from the incident. The Fever is sixth in the WNBA and they hold a 6-5 record.

Sophie Cunningham will continue to play a crucial role for the Indian Fever as they take on opponents.

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

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