Fever Faces Another Setback as Sophie Cunningham Goes Down with Injury
“It doesn’t get any easier.” For the Indiana Fever, those words have become all too familiar. On Sunday, the team suffered yet another blow when Sophie Cunningham left the game in the first half with a right knee injury during a 99-93 overtime victory against the Connecticut Sun.
The incident unfolded in the second quarter when Sun guard Bria Hartley collided with Cunningham’s leg while attempting a pass near the sideline. Cunningham immediately grabbed her knee, hopping toward the baseline before collapsing in pain. Trainers rushed to her side, while Fever coach Stephanie White, Lexie Hull, and even Marina Mabrey from the opposing team helped shield her from the crowd as teammates rushed to the floor.
“She was in a lot of pain, and seeing her like that—it’s just tough,” White said after the game. “You want to calm her down, regroup, and then quickly pivot to problem-solving. How do we put ourselves in a position to win? This group is special, and I’m grateful for them.”
Cunningham was helped off the court, and the team confirmed she would not return for the remainder of the game. The extent of her injury has yet to be fully determined.
This latest setback adds to a season already riddled with injuries for the Fever. Caitlin Clark has been sidelined since mid-July with a groin injury, while point guards Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson suffered season-ending injuries during a late-July matchup in Phoenix.
“It felt like deja vu,” said Kelsey Mitchell, reflecting on the scene. “Seeing Sophie go down is humbling, but it also fuels you. You care about your teammates—who you play with—and that drives everything you do on the court.”
White emphasized the challenges the team now faces. With Cunningham’s injury, the Fever will not be eligible to sign a hardship replacement until after Friday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. This makes the upcoming four-day break critical for recovery and recalibration.
“It’s huge,” White said. “We need rest. We have players who have logged heavy minutes. We need time to recover mentally, physically, and emotionally, and to adjust our lineups without Aari, Syd, and now Sophie. We have to figure out new roles, substitution patterns, and strategies.”
Despite the mounting challenges, the Fever’s resilience remains evident. Players like Mitchell highlight the camaraderie and determination that define the team. “When you care about your locker room, it fuels you. That’s who we are,” she said.
As Indiana navigates the ongoing injuries, every player will need to step up. The combination of rest, recovery, and strategic adjustments will be key to staying competitive. But the emotional toll of watching yet another teammate go down cannot be understated.
For now, the Fever will regroup, lean on their depth, and continue to push forward—reminding fans and opponents alike that while the season has been brutal, the team’s spirit is far from broken.
