Arsenal
Sophie Cunningham has sparked controversy but once more after the WNBA issued a $1,500 nice following her debut episode on the Present Me One thing podcast, which premiered July 28.
All through the episode, the Indiana Fever guard did not maintain again. She delivered an unfiltered critique of the WNBA’s officiating consistency:
“If I used to be a ref, I do know I would mess up on a regular basis… However when it’s a easy name proper in entrance of your face a number of instances… What are you doing? What are you doing?… They’re simply so inconsistent.”
These remarks, made on-air, prompted the league handy down the brand new nice.
Cunningham revealed the knowledge through the podcast’s second episode, inflicting her co-host, West Wilson to react in shock, asking Cunningham how the WNBA notified her.
“What occurs is that they e-mail our GM,” Cunningham stated, explaining how she was pulled apart and advised merely, “‘hey, they’re gonna nice you once more.'”
This penalty comes simply weeks after the Indiana Fever guard was beforehand docked $500 again in July for a TikTok video during which she satirized league referees whereas lipsyncing to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” with overlaying textual content tagging “@ some refs” and mouthing the lyrics “Silly. Or is it sluggish? Possibly it is ineffective.”
“I received fined $500 for this TikTok idk why that is humorous to me… like okay, you bought it bud! Trigger there’s no more essential issues to be anxious about with our league proper now,” she wrote on an X caption whereas sharing the video.
Regardless of these fines, Cunningham stays unapologetic, persevering with to defend her stance publicly and suggesting the league is overly delicate to criticism. In a single social media reply she reportedly quipped:
“The infinite WNBA warfare on the people who find themselves bringing consideration to their product whereas defending the habits that turns folks off NEVER ceases to amaze me.”
Rising tensions over officiating and free speech
Cunningham’s outspoken criticisms come as broader considerations about officiating within the WNBA have grown louder.
Different gamers, together with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, have additionally voiced frustration over inconsistent foul calls. Even Fever head coach Stephanie White has publicly echoed concern.
Cunningham’s position started to rise throughout a heated June sport between Indiana and the Connecticut Solar.
Following a watch poke to Caitlin Clark and a subsequent scuffle, Cunningham dedicated a tough foul on Jacy Sheldon, incomes a flagrant-2 and ejection. The league later fined her for the late hit, although no suspensions had been issued.
Cunningham has continued to criticize the league, stating what she sees as misplaced deal with trivial points whereas officiating issues persist throughout the WNBA.
Coach White commented that “everyone’s getting higher, besides the officers,” calling for consistency throughout video games.
