ION Commentators Call Out Hostility Against Fever as Sophie Cunningham Gets Stressful vs Sparks

Being a fan isn’t just about watching with the eyes; it can feel like a full-body experience. Doctors have long studied how heart rates spike, blood pressure rises, and stress hormones flood during big games, sometimes even leading to cardiovascular emergencies. The more dramatic the sport, the stronger the physiological pull. Given the WNBA’s pace, intensity, and emotional swings, it’s not hard to place it near the top of that spectrum. And the way broadcasts frame the action only heightens the effect. Take ION’s recent coverage of Fever vs. Sparks, for example, with 8:24 still left in the second quarter.

It surely felt more like a stress test than a game. The clip opened on Fever’s Odyssey Sims and Natasha Howard. They were caught mid-conversation, before the commentators layered in: “That was a stiff arm if I’ve ever seen one. Now that college football is kicking off this weekend.” Here, they weren’t referring to the chat, but to the moment just before. When Rickea Jackson had shoved her hand across Sims’ face. Then, as if to underline the point, the camera cut to Lexie Hull (her black eyes shadowed under the lights), making her way to the bench while checking on Sims.

The commentators continued, “and there’s Lexie Hull. You could see both of her eyes – contact with Gabby Williams in Seattle in the first quarter.” We know the graphics popped into your head without even needing the description. Now imagine the fans watching it live. In the stands sat a woman in Lexie’s background. Her expression tightened seeing Lexie’s face and eyes as she turned after making sure Sims was alright. That single look seemed to capture what everyone was feeling – the very same emotions Sophie Cunningham herself admitted to.

Sophie Cunningham is sidelined with injury and has become the Fever’s biggest supporter. And as goes for any core fan, she is unable to detach from the drama even when she isn’t suited up. “Is it always this stressful being a fan? I can’t take it… can’t sit still.” In her defense, it’s not just the imagery that made the night heavy. It’s especially a big one as the Fever are 3-0 against the Sparks so far. Tonight, Los Angeles will go all out in a do-or-die push to inch closer to a playoff spot, while Indiana will fight tooth and nail to protect its.

This matchup carries weight: the 20-18 Fever, sitting sixth, are just 2 games ahead of the 17-19 Sparks in what has become a brutally tight WNBA playoff race. So yes, Sophie’s stress was real. Give it another season, and she’ll trade the restless fidgeting for the familiar calm of seeing the game through her own jersey again. Until then, she can enjoy from the sidelines, and not just during WNBA matchups….

Sophie Cunningham’s fan life extends far beyond the hardwood

Cunningham was born in Columbia, Missouri, and raised on the University of Missouri campus. She grew up immersed in the Kansas City Chiefs culture. As she describes in her own words, she’s been a Chiefs fan “since coming out of the womb,” and that feeling has never wavered. Earlier this year, she even received an invitation from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to check out their Kansas City restaurant!

Even being in Indiana hasn’t stopped her from soaking up the local sports scene. Sure, she has always cheered on the Pacers during their playoff run and says she’s open to showing love to the Colts as well, however – “I will definitely go and check out the Colts. I don’t have any beef with them. But I think deep down, I will always have my team, which is the Chiefs,” she explained. “But I am so down to go and support the team (Colts). I am all for that. I am not weird about that.”

Her podcast co-host, West Wilson, even teased her by comparing her loyalty to Jayson Tatum, who plays for the Boston Celtics but openly backs his hometown St. Louis Cardinals in baseball. Sophie was quick to clarify that, while she’s not quite that extreme, she’s proud of her football allegiance. “Everyone knows I am a huge Chiefs fan. Like if Colts and Chiefs are playing, Chiefs all the way. But will I go and support the Colts for a game? Yeah!”

That pride goes beyond logos on a jersey; it’s in fact tied to Arrowhead Stadium itself. Sophie Cunningham recalled attending an Arizona Cardinals game while playing for Phoenix, only to catch herself comparing everything to Kansas City’s legendary home. “Maybe I am a lot more hardcore than I think,” she laughed.

So whether it’s enduring playoff stress on a WNBA sideline or yelling over the roar of Arrowhead on November 23rd when the Chiefs and Colts clash, Sophie Cunningham is living the game on every front…