Who would’ve thought that a matchup between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever could become one of the most drama-filled rivalries of the season? Yet, that’s exactly what it has become. Whenever these two teams share the court, the intensity spikes, and the games rarely pass without incident. The latest chapter came when Sophie Cunningham exited with a knee injury, raising questions among fans about whether the competitive edge between these teams is crossing into something more personal.

The chapter began when Jacy Sheldon poked Caitlin Clark in the eye, sparking a tussle between Clark, Sheldon, and Marina Mabrey. In that same game, Sophie Cunningham was ejected for pulling Sheldon to the ground- her way of standing up for her teammate. Fast forward to their next meeting at TD Garden, and it turned out to be Caitlin’s last game of the season so far, as she left the court in tears, clutching her groin.

Then came Sunday’s nightmare. As Bria Hartley tried to pass into the corner, she collided with Kelsey Mitchell and, in the process of falling, struck Sophie Cunningham’s unprotected lower leg. It looked painful and unsettling, though some argue it was purely accidental. But it was the image that followed that took social media by storm. Cunningham was seen clutching her knees while Hartley appeared to be smiling.

No one knows the full extent of her injury yet. Dr. Sutterer did raise concerns about a possible patella dislocation, but seeing Sophie stand up and smile while Coach White spoke to her postgame was a heartwarming sight for Fever fans, especially if Monday’s MRI brings good news. That said, the debate over whether Hartley intentionally hurt Sophie isn’t going away anytime soon.

Fans react to the viral Sophie Cunningham photo

“Bria Hartley EXPOSED SMILING for that. pathetic is way too gentle. full criminal investigation should be called for w managment. game rigging, stat rigging, this league is in need for a major shakeout!” one furious fan wrote, voicing the collective frustration of the Fever nation. And honestly, you can see why emotions are boiling over. The Fever have already lost Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson to season-ending injuries. Caitlin Clark’s return date is still a mystery. Even Kyra Lambert, who was signed as injury cover, has already been waived. So when Hartley’s smile popped up in that viral photo, the anger was inevitable.

Now, whether Hartley was actually smiling at Cunningham’s pain or it was just an unfortunate/untimely snapshot while she too was down on the floor, no one can say for sure. But that didn’t matter to fans. They weren’t going to give her the benefit of the doubt. “They need to suspend her. She’s going to keep doing it because there’s never any consequences. @WNBA,” one fan wrote, highlighting that Hartley has been getting away with these kinds of plays for far too long.

Hartley has already built a bit of a reputation this season, with two ejections under her belt. Just a few days ago, she was tossed against the Sky after she got tangled up with Rebecca Allen, and earlier in the year, she met the same fate versus the Sparks. Then there was the June incident when the former UConn guard was caught pulling Angel Reese’s hair. So, calling for a suspension against a player who has now been involved in such situations three times would be fair, right?

Well, this time around, the footage suggests there was no direct foul play; it looked more accidental than intentional. But were Fever fans ever going to sit quietly? Not a chance. “It was masterful. She accomplished what she wanted. Everyone knows what she did. But how do you ‘prove’ it?” one fan wrote, convinced Hartley had crossed the line. The frustration even reached Sophie Cunningham’s own family. Her mother, in a now-deleted tweet shared via @P2Cham, didn’t hold back either: “Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control.”

One fan even went as far as suggesting Sophie Cunningham should take legal action. “She should sue her for that,” they wrote. But let’s get one thing straight. Whether you believe Hartley’s collision with Sophie was accidental or intentional, suing a player isn’t going to fix the deeper problems in the sport. The real issue lies with officiating, something the league has struggled with all season. Ironically, Cunningham has been one of the loudest voices calling out poor officiating, already getting fined twice for speaking her mind.

Even in this matchup against the Sun, some users felt like Cunningham had a target on her back from the opening tip. Just two possessions in, she was whistled for a technical foul after losing control of her dribble while being hounded full-court by Leila Lacan. The two scrambled for the ball, which initially led to a jump ball. But after the review, officials decided Cunningham had shoved Lacan unnecessarily and handed her the tech.

When situations like these keep unfolding, the role of officials should be to protect the players, yet that’s exactly where many feel the league is falling short. One fan summed it up perfectly: “The WNBA needs better trained officials. Games get out of hand, which increases the likelihood of injuries. @CathyEngelbert.” And they’re not wrong. So many stars have gone down this season. Clark, A’ja, Napheesa, and more. While not every injury can be pinned on officiating, it’s fair to argue that better game management could have prevented some of them.

That same frustration was echoed by Cunningham’s sister as well. “@WNBA, maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more on hiring officials who can call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you @sophaller🙏🏼❤️,” she wrote.

It remains to be seen when Cunningham will return to action, but fans are clearly hoping for a quick recovery with the playoffs approaching. They’ll want as many players healthy as possible. But will that actually happen? For now, we’ll just have to wait and watch.