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Sophie Cunningham has never been afraid to say exactly what she thinks. That willingness to speak openly made her one of the most talked-about players in the WNBA last season, and also one of the most fined.
Now, ahead of the 2026 opener, the Indiana Fever veteran is revisiting that tension with the league in a way only Cunningham really can. With the Fever preparing to open the season against the Dallas Wings and rookie star Paige Bueckers, Cunningham joked that the WNBA may actually owe her some money after league officials acknowledged officiating needed to improve entering the new season.
It was a funny moment, but it also captured why Cunningham became such a lightning rod around the league in 2025.
Sophie Cunningham spent much of last season battling officials
Cunningham’s first season in Indiana brought plenty of attention for her play, toughness and personality. But it also came with repeated clashes involving officiating. The Fever guard was fined three separate times during the 2025 season.
The first incident came during a heated June matchup against the Connecticut Sun when Cunningham received a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection after an altercation involving Jacy Sheldon. The frustration did not stop there.
A month later, Cunningham was fined again after posting criticism of WNBA officiating on TikTok. Then in August, the league handed her a $1,500 fine for comments she made on her podcast, “Show Me Something,” where she openly questioned several calls made against Indiana throughout the season.
“I’m not saying that your job is easy,” Cunningham said at the time. “But when it is a simple call in front of your face multiple times, what are you doing?”
That quote quickly circulated across WNBA social media because many Fever fans already believed officiating surrounding Indiana had become one of the biggest storylines of the season.
Cunningham had one question after meeting with referees
During a recent episode of her podcast, Cunningham explained that league officials have made improving officiating a point of emphasis entering 2026. According to Cunningham, referees have openly acknowledged they need to be better this season.
That led to her joking response.
“New year, fresh start,” Cunningham said. “We’ve had meetings with the refs and I think they have owned up for last year truly. Like in all of our meetings, they’re like, ‘We’ve got to be better.’ Wait, does that mean I get my money back?”
The comment was clearly delivered humorously, but it also reflected the lingering tension between players and officiating that carried through much of last season.
MORE: Stephanie White could be forced to make major lineup change before facing Paige Bueckers in opener
Fever entering season with massive spotlight again
Indiana is once again expected to be one of the centerpieces of the WNBA season because of the attention surrounding Caitlin Clark and the Fever’s revamped roster. That spotlight naturally puts even more scrutiny on officiating, physicality and player protection — all issues Cunningham frequently addressed throughout 2025.
At the same time, Cunningham became a fan favorite in Indiana precisely because she embraced those conversations publicly instead of avoiding them. Now healthy after the torn MCL that ended her 2025 campaign early, Cunningham enters the new season as one of the emotional leaders on a Fever team trying to take another step toward championship contention.
And if history is any indication, she probably is not going to stay quiet for very long.
More WNBA news:
- Stephanie White could be forced to make major lineup change before facing Paige Bueckers in opener
- Sophie Cunningham leaves door open for emotional Phoenix Mercury reunion after Indiana comments
- Caitlin Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin suddenly becomes WNBA free agent
- Sophie Cunningham announces new partnership before Indiana Fever season opener
- Caitlin Clark no longer tops WNBA GMs’ franchise player rankings
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