The Indiana Fever’s 2025 WNBA campaign has been rocked by another devastating blow, as guard Sophie Cunningham will miss the remainder of the season—including the playoffs—after suffering a torn MCL in her right knee. The injury occurred during the second quarter of the Fever’s dramatic 88-71 comeback victory over the Connecticut Sun on August 17. Cunningham, who had been playing a vital role as a pseudo-point guard in the wake of earlier injuries to the Fever’s primary ballhandlers, immediately clutched her knee in pain after Connecticut’s Bria Hartley tumbled into her leg while driving to the basket.
The scene at Mohegan Sun Arena was tense. Cunningham, who had stepped up to provide help defense, found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time as Hartley lost her footing and crashed into her. Trainers rushed to her side, and she was eventually helped off the court, her season suddenly in jeopardy. The Fever confirmed the worst on August 19: Cunningham had torn her MCL and would not return this year. The team, however, expressed optimism about her long-term outlook, stating Cunningham is expected to make a full recovery.
This marks the third season-ending injury for a Fever guard in just over two weeks, following Aari McDonald’s broken foot and Sydney Colson’s ACL tear, both sustained on July 30 against the Phoenix Mercury. The team’s injury list doesn’t end there—superstar rookie Caitlin Clark remains sidelined indefinitely with a right groin injury, having missed the last 13 games as of August 19. Coach Stephanie White, when asked about Clark’s potential return, said, “That’s the hope. The hope is that she’s back.” White later emphasized, “The most important thing continues to be that she is 100% when she’s ready to come back. The timing is never ideal, but her long-term health and wellness is the most-important thing.”
The loss of Cunningham is particularly tough for Indiana, as she was in the midst of a strong first season with the Fever after being traded from Phoenix. She had averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over 30 games (13 starts), shooting a career-best 46.9 percent from the field and a scorching 43.2 percent from beyond the arc. Cunningham’s leadership and grit were on full display, especially after stepping into a starting role following the injuries to Colson and McDonald. She had been a stabilizing presence on a roster battered by adversity, even playing pseudo-point guard in recent games.
In the aftermath of her injury, Cunningham addressed swirling social media speculation regarding Hartley’s intent during the play. Some fans, reacting to a viral image of Hartley appearing to smile as Cunningham hobbled away, accused Hartley of dirty play. Cunningham shut down those rumors on her Show Me Something podcast: “I know Bria, and I’m actually really good friends with Bria... But I don’t think that there [wasn’t any] ill intent. I think it was a basketball play, I was just in the front spot at the wrong time, she fell. Like, there’s no way she would go in there and intentionally try to hurt me. I have nothing but love for Bria... Bria and I are super cool, and she would never try to hurt me. Because there are some girls that I think might, but she wouldn’t do that. I hope people stop giving Bria some heat, because I don’t think she meant to do that at all.” Cunningham added that Hartley’s expression was a grimace, not a smile of satisfaction, further quelling the controversy.
Cunningham’s sister, Lindsey, took to social media with a different focus, criticizing WNBA officiating and calling for better player protection: “@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you, @sophaller.” The Fever guard’s injury has reignited broader league debates about officiating standards and player safety—issues that have simmered throughout a physical 2025 season.
With their guard rotation in shambles, the Fever acted quickly to shore up the backcourt, signing veteran Shey Peddy to a seven-day hardship contract and releasing Kyra Lambert, who had made her WNBA debut in the closing moments of the Connecticut win. Peddy, a 36-year-old six-year league veteran, brings experience and defensive prowess. She most recently played for the Los Angeles Sparks, averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 assists over six games this season. Peddy’s career averages include 5.9 points and 2.3 assists per game, and she was named Defensive Player of the Year at Athletes Unlimited during the most recent offseason. Peddy, who played four seasons with the Phoenix Mercury from 2020 to 2023, will be available for Indiana’s next game against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on August 22.
The roster moves are part of a constant shuffle for Indiana, who have also signed Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract following earlier injuries. The Fever, who had a 19-16 record and sat in sixth place as of August 19, are fighting to maintain playoff positioning with just nine games left in the regular season. They are 2.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Los Angeles Sparks, but their schedule is daunting: three games remain against the top-seeded Lynx, and the Fever face the league’s toughest remaining slate.
Despite the setbacks, Indiana has found ways to compete. Kelsey Mitchell is having the best season of her eight-year career, averaging a career-high 20.4 points and 3.4 assists, while All-Star forward Aliyah Boston is also posting career-bests with 15.2 points and 3.6 assists. The Fever will need even more from both stars as they attempt to weather this brutal stretch and secure a postseason berth.
Coach White acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “After Phoenix, it was a quick turnaround to figure out how we’re going to play without Aari and Syd. Now we have to figure out how we’re going to play without Sophie, who can play in certain roles, substitution patterns and what kind of wrinkles we can throw out there... It doesn’t get any easier.” The team had an off day on August 18, a recovery day on August 19, and will return to practice for two days before facing Minnesota.
Cunningham, who played this season on a one-year, $100,000 contract, will be a free agent at season’s end. Her off-court profile has grown as well, with a burgeoning podcast and an active social media presence—especially after she was ejected earlier this year for defending Clark in a heated contest against the Sun. The Fever and their fans will be hoping for a full recovery and a return to form in 2026.
As Indiana prepares for the final stretch, the question lingers: can this resilient squad, battered but unbroken, hang on to a playoff spot and make some noise in the postseason? With their stars stepping up and new faces joining the fight, the Fever’s season remains very much alive, even as adversity mounts.
