The Indiana Fever’s 2025 campaign has been anything but ordinary, and the latest chapter in their turbulent season came with the announcement that guard Sophie Cunningham will miss the remainder of the year after tearing her right MCL. The injury, which occurred during the Fever’s gritty comeback win over the Connecticut Sun on August 17, marks the third season-ending blow to the Fever’s roster in August alone. Yet, in a season defined by adversity, Cunningham’s response—and the team’s—has been nothing short of inspiring.
Cunningham, who joined the Fever for her first season this year, suffered the injury in the second quarter after a collision with Sun guard Bria Hartley under the basket. As Cunningham later explained on her “Show Me Something” podcast, the play was purely accidental. “There was no ill intent, I think it was a basketball play,” Cunningham said. “I was just in the wrong spot at the wrong time (and) she fell. There’s no way that she would go in there and potentially try to hurt me. I have nothing but love for Bria … and so I hope people stop giving Bria some heat because I don’t think she meant to do that at all.”
After feeling a “pop” in her right leg, Cunningham was helped off the court by team staff. The Fever officially announced her season-ending injury on August 19, confirming the MCL tear. Cunningham, ever the optimist, described the situation as “the best possible case” for a serious knee injury, noting that her foot position may have prevented further damage. “If my foot had been up a little bit, maybe my leg would’ve given in a little bit, but my foot was locked on the ground … it was like a textbook MCL tear,” she said. “If you had gone a couple more inches to the left, you would’ve torn a whole bunch more sh—. I’m very thankful for where I am at, so it’s all good.”
The 28-year-old guard will undergo surgery on August 22, with an expected four-month recovery. Despite the setback, Cunningham’s spirits remain high. “I’m really in good spirits because I knew that I hurt myself pretty good, but I will say I’m just thankful. I’m just thankful to be where I’m at and be with the organization and the girls that I’m with because they have brought life and my love of basketball back.”
Cunningham’s injury is just the latest in a long line for Indiana this season. The Fever have been battling a depleted roster for weeks. Two-time All-Star Caitlin Clark has been sidelined with a right groin injury since mid-July and has not played since. Guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald both suffered season-ending injuries—Colson tore her ACL and McDonald broke her foot—during a game at Phoenix on August 7. The Fever’s response to these injuries has been to shuffle the roster, signing veterans Odyssey Sims and Shey Peddy to short-term contracts and releasing Kyra Lambert to address roster needs. The team announced Peddy’s addition on a seven-day hardship contract just after Cunningham’s injury.
Before her season was cut short, Cunningham had become a key contributor for Indiana, especially with Clark out. She averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game across 30 appearances, starting in 13 contests. She was shooting career highs of 46.9% from the field and 43.2% from three-point range, providing energy and defensive intensity on both ends of the floor. As the Fever’s injury woes mounted, Cunningham’s role only grew more critical, both as a scorer and a leader in the locker room.
Despite the revolving door of injuries, the Fever have shown remarkable resilience. In the very game that saw Cunningham go down, Indiana overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the Sun, powered by Kelsey Mitchell’s career-high 38 points. Coach Stephanie White was effusive in her praise for the team’s effort and unity. “First and foremost, they’re good human beings,” White said after the game. “They’re selfless, they’re tough, they don’t care who gets the credit, they don’t care whose day it is. They got something inside of them that you just can’t teach. And they bring it out of each other and it allows us to go through these incredibly tough times that we’re going through and always gives us a chance. I’m just so incredibly proud of them for continuing to believe, for continuing to pull together, for continuing to step up.”
The Fever’s resilience has kept them in the playoff hunt, currently sitting sixth in the league standings with nine games remaining. While the team has not provided a timetable for Clark’s return, White has expressed hope that the star guard could be back before the regular-season finale on September 9 against Minnesota. The Fever’s playoff hopes now rest on the shoulders of their remaining healthy players and the ability of new signings like Shey Peddy to quickly integrate and contribute.
Off the court, the conversation around Cunningham’s injury has been equally charged. While Cunningham herself has refrained from criticizing the play or officiating, her sister Lindsey, who serves as Mizzou’s assistant director of development, voiced frustration with the WNBA’s officiating standards on social media. Lindsey wrote, “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, Sophie.” The league has fined Cunningham multiple times this season for comments about officiating, but in the wake of her injury, Sophie has chosen to focus on recovery and positivity.
For Cunningham, the road to recovery is clear, and she’s already looking ahead. “This is a quick little recovery, and I’ll be on a boat ASAP,” she joked, imagining her offseason plans. She remains confident that the adversity the Fever have faced this year will pay dividends down the line. “I feel like we’ve faced it more than most this year, but I think this is going to set us up for something good,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s this season, I don’t know if it’s next season but I think there’s always something you could be grateful and learn during those hard times.”
As the Fever continue their push toward the playoffs, the loss of Cunningham is a significant blow, but the team’s unyielding spirit and unity have become their defining traits. With nine games left and the postseason in sight, Indiana’s story is far from finished—and neither is Cunningham’s.
