Sophie Cunningham to the Rescue as Indiana Star Exposes WNBA Crisis Hurting 155 Players

Sophie Cunningham says exactly what she thinks. And she’s not afraid to act on it either. Whether it’s her hot take on the WNBA expansion or a TikTok taking shots at the refs, Cunningham is always blunt and unfiltered. Who can forget her tackle to protect Caitlin Clark during a physical game against the Connecticut Sun?

That raw intensity made her a household name overnight. Even after that game, she didn’t hold back. Cunningham laid into the officiating, stating it was a “build‑up for a couple of years.” She also made it clear she would defend her teammate again. Her latest comments came on her podcast with West Wilson, titled Show Me Something.

During the podcast, the issue of bad officiating came up from West Wilson’s end. Sophie Cunningham, without mincing any words, exposed a significant issue that affects the players in the W. “The biggest issue about the female side of refs is that they’re so emotional. Like the NBA players m********k those officials like no other,” she said. The player pointed out how the players in the WNBA are slapped with fines if they speak out. That said, she did take a moment to praise one WNBA player.

“The only person that I’ve ever seen able to like m********k a ref on the women’s side is Diana Terasi,” Cunningham said, “She’s probably one of the worst people that I’ve seen go after refs, and I loved every second of it.” The Indiana Fever star made it clear that she is not basing this on gender but on how soft the officiating in the WNBA is. However, Cunningham also revealed that speaking out about issues in the WNBA often brings a wave of hate directed at her.

Sophie Cunningham opens up about the backlash she faces for speaking out.

In the first week of July, Cunningham chose to speak out about Detroit and Cleveland joining the W. She suggested that cities like Miami, Nashville, or Kansas City would better serve fan interest. However, this statement was met with a backlash from the people of those cities. When West Wilson asked Sophie Cunningham if any other WNBA players are as blunt with the referees, she replied that, as of now, she is the only one in the league who speaks out like that.

“I am someone who says what everyone else is thinking or talking about, not just with the refs, but with Detroit and Cleveland. I want people to hear what I just said. I am the only one. But if you ask our league, they feel the same way,” she said. However, she often faces backlash for saying what many others are thinking. Revealing a past incident, she shared how a Detroit resident came up to her during a Cubs vs White Sox game.

But in a very Sophie manner, she remained unapologetic in her stance. While the Indiana Fever star believes that most players support her take on Detroit and Cleveland, some disagree with her. NBA stars Donovan Mitchell and Tristan Thompson, who play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, claimed it is an unbelievable sports town with great people. Even the Detroit and Cleveland sports entities came forward to push back on her take.

However, Sophie Cunningham stands firm in her words. The Indiana Fever star is set to take the court next on Friday, August 1, against the Dallas Wings.