The intensity ramped up during the preseason matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics, which took place on Saturday. At one moment, Sophie Cunningham reached high for a defensive rebound, colliding with rookie Kiki Iliafen. The encounter saw the veteran Cunningham taken down, prompting Fever’s Lexie Hull to step in to separate the two players.
Mystics guard Morgan Jones was seen putting an arm around Iliafen, who, standing at 6-foot-3, turned away from Cunningham with a smile. A Flagrant 1 foul was assessed on Iliafen for the incident.
This wasn’t the lone scuffle of the game. There was another moment when Brittney Sykes knocked Cunningham to the floor while attempting to pass to Dewanna Bonner, signaling a physical atmosphere on the court.
Head coach Stephanie White praised Cunningham, describing her as a competitive player who brings versatility and toughness to the team. He added that her energy could uplift the whole team’s performance. Indiana emerged victorious in a closely contested game, winning 79-74 in overtime.
Despite finishing last season with one of the worst records in the WNBA, the Mystics demonstrated resilience during the preseason, showing they can challenge any opponent.
The season will kick off for Washington on May 16 against the Atlanta Dream, while Indiana will face off against the Chicago Sky the following day.
