Sophie Cunningham risks another WNBA fine defending an injured teammate

In 2025, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham racked up $2,000 in fines. The penalties began with a $500 fine for a TikTok video where she lip-synced Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” seemingly mocking referees. Shortly after, a $1,500 fine followed for comments on her podcast targeting the league and its officiating. Undeterred, Cunningham incurred another fine for remarks about Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers. However, in the latest episode of her “Show Me Something” podcast, she showed no signs of backing down, risking further consequences by openly criticizing referees while discussing her teammate Lexi Hull’s injury.Sophie Cunningham invites more WNBA fines while boldly defending Lexi Hull's injuryCunningham boldly used the word “ref” despite acknowledging the likelihood of another fine, stating, “If I say the word ref on this podcast, I’m going to get fined, so I might as well go balls to the wall.” She expressed sympathy for Hull, who suffered a brutal injury, noting, “Have you seen the pictures though of Lexi? Brutal. It’s crazy. She’s so pretty that if anyone’s going to look like that, let it be Lexi because she can still somehow make it look pretty in a way.”Cunningham’s candidness highlights her frustration with the league’s officiating, particularly regarding physical play and inconsistent calls, which she believes led to Hull’s injury. Her unapologetic stance underscores her willingness to face financial repercussions to defend her teammate and call out perceived injustices.Sophie Cunningham slams WNBA officiating over Lexi Hull's injuryCunningham’s latest podcast episode delves deeper into her grievances with the NBA. She described a game against Minnesota where Kayla McBride elbowed Hull after a jumper, initially called a common foul but later upgraded to a technical. Cunningham argued it deserved harsher punishment, stating, “I know if it were anyone on our team, if it was me, probably because I talk sh** on here and then my reputation, they would have probably thrown me out.”She believed the foul likely caused Hull a concussion, praising her teammate’s toughness: “She’s probably one of the toughest players you will ever meet.” Despite the upgrade, the call sparked online backlash, which Cunningham felt exposed officiating inconsistencies. Her frustration continued as she recounted another incident during a game against the Seattle Storm, which the Fever won 95-75. Early in the first quarter, Hull collided with Gabby Williams, resulting in a protruding forehead and two black eyes.Cunningham, shocked by Hull’s injuries, FaceTimed her to check in, recalling, “She looked like an avatar.” Despite the visible damage, Hull returned to the court, delivering a 24-foot shot that forced a timeout. Cunningham commended Hull’s resilience, noting her contribution of 6 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists. However, she criticized the referees for allowing excessive physicality, arguing, “What is kind of getting out of hand is the refs are allowing it to be too physical. And then people can get away with certain stuff, and then that’s when emotions flare.”Also read: Sophie Cunningham’s sister Lindsey drops 1-word reaction for WNBA after $1,500 fine and injury