“I think I am built for this,” Sophie Cunningham declared when she arrived at the Indiana Fever as part of a four-team trade. With that statement, she made it clear she was ready to take on an expanded role in head coach Stephanie White’s offense — an offense designed to run through second-year guard Caitlin Clark. But before she could truly settle in, Cunningham was sidelined by an ankle injury during the final preseason game. Think that stopped her? Of course not. Her determination to suit up for the season opener despite the injury proved just how ready she was. And when she finally got her chance in Game 3, she made the most of it — even in the face of a controversial call that sparked fan outrage.

Well, Cunningham checked into the game with three minutes left in the first quarter. Though she got off to a bit of a slow start, she helped Indiana by draining their second three-pointer, with just two seconds remaining in the quarter. Then, she stayed active into the second quarter, where her energy helped fuel a 7-point run that pushed the Fever ahead, thanks in part to a bucket from Kelsey Mitchell that brought the score to 20–18. So, Cunningham was an energetic presence throughout the first half, even if she didn’t hit many big buckets.

And when she returned in the fourth quarter, she knew exactly what was needed. Unfortunately, that’s when the refs blew the whistle — calling an offensive foul on her during a screen. That moment shifted the energy in the building. Fever head coach Stephanie White didn’t hesitate — she threw the challenge flag, visibly frustrated. Scott Agnes put it perfectly: “Steph White had to use a challenge after a foul on Sophie Cunningham, who was stationary to set a screen for CC. It was unsuccessful. I don’t get it. It was a textbook screen.”

And rightly so. The replay confirmed what most saw in real time: a clean, legal screen. Yet the officials stuck with the call, and fans across social media lost their patience. This all happened in a tough matchup against a team that had already gone 2–0 against the Fever this season. So, it’s no surprise that the referees became the center of controversy.

WNBA refs under scrutiny again as Sophie Cunningham delivers delight to fans

Staying true to their usual practice, fans didn’t hesitate to flood the comment section, firing back at WNBA refs. “I’d like to know how the offensive foul on Sophie Cunningham was reviewed and still called. That was a perfect screen set. I want to know what the ref was thinking. Thoughts?” penned one user. Since video replays clearly showed it was a legal screen, fans were expecting the officials to make the right call, or at least explain the decision. Even majorly so, as it came out at the worst time possible when Cunningham had just checked in while both Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston were sidelined with four fouls apiece. That meant Indiana’s two biggest offensive threats were on the bench in a critical moment.

So when Cunningham’s solid play was spoiled by a questionable foul call, fans were understandably outraged. “That was an entertaining #WNBA game here in the ATL. Fever made a couple more plays at the end. Sophie Cunningham made the difference in this one. Too many foul calls from refs. That was the only negative part,” added another user. Fouls clearly impacted the flow and outcome of the game. While teams typically draw 17–20 fouls per game in the WNBA, the Fever were hit with 25 fouls while the Dream had 21. With the WNBA’s slower pace and tighter officiating compared to the NBA, the elevated foul count felt excessive, and fans didn’t hold back.

But it wasn’t just the quantity of fouls that raised eyebrows. Some comments online took a darker turn, with one user writing: “Watching this game and last season, I am convinced that the refs are DEI hires and have been given instructions to destroy Caitlin Clark and other white players.” Whether driven by frustration or something more divisive, the statement reflects the growing mistrust between fans and officiating crews. And it all makes sense as foul count wasn’t the only issue.

A couple of days ago. Fever superstar Caitlin Clark herself criticised the lengthy calls after a previous loss to the Dream. “Challenges cannot take that long. It ruins the flow of the game. I get it. It’s early in the year. The refs want to make the right call,” she said in a postgame interview. “We can’t sit there for two and a half, three minutes on an obvious hit out of bounds off of them and still not know the call.” As Clark pointed out, these interruptions disrupt momentum, especially during defensive stops or scoring runs. And in a game that ended 81–76, with Indiana edging Atlanta by a mere five points, every call carried weight. Well, today’s game was no different, and with that, you get a recipe for tension and backlash.

But, despite it all, Sophie Cunningham didn’t let the blown call define her night. Just moments after the failed coach’s challenge, she stayed locked in. “Offensive foul on Rhyne Howard! Sophie Cunningham drew it,” one fan excitedly noted. With just 22 seconds left, Cunningham was fouled by Howard, just before Kelsey Mitchell was fouled herself. Seconds later, Cunningham came up with a massive block and nearly ran the length of the floor before being fouled again.

“CC to Boston to go up three. And then Sophie Cunningham drawing the offensive foul on the other end. BIG. TIME,” added another fan. Cunningham went on to hit a key free throw, pushing the score to 81–76, sealing the win for Indiana. In just 19 minutes, she posted 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists—not eye-popping numbers, but exactly what the Fever needed. A little bit of everything. Grit, poise, and timely plays.

And in a game mired by controversy, Sophie Cunningham made all the difference.