Sophie Cunningham has been vocal about the treatment of civil servants and has been supportive of star player Caitlyn Clark.
Cunningham, who was ejected from a game after an incident involving Clark last Saturday, expressed her thoughts post-practice, emphasizing the need for better protection of top players in the WNBA. The umpire agreed that improvements were necessary.
“I’m not really focused on the drama,” Cunningham mentioned. “But, honestly, that was just part of the game. I think that played a significant role.”
Earlier in the game against the Sun, Cunningham committed a rough foul on Jacee Sheldon, who had knocked Clark down. This occurred just minutes into the game when Sheldon brought Clark to the ground as she moved towards the basket.
This confrontation led to increased tensions, resulting in Cunningham’s ejection and a subsequent fine from the league.
The sparks from these tensions were ignited by Sheldon’s foul. A brief altercation occurred when Marina Mabry of the Sun pushed Clark, yet Mabry was not ejected.
Clark is averaging 19.9 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in her second season with the WNBA. The Fever currently stands at a 6-6 record, following a narrow defeat to Liberty last month, which led coach Stephanie White to criticize the officials for a lack of consistency regarding free throws.
Cunningham did not shy away from her critiques after the chaos of Tuesday’s game, stating, “I can guarantee this will continue to happen.”
“When officials fail to control the game, that kind of stuff unfolds. And when it’s happening all season, you’ve got the best competitive women in the world,” she added. “Intense competition leads to these situations. I sensed trouble early on. I can assure you, it’s bound to happen.”
Cunningham has averaged 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in her first seven games with the Fever, and she’s certainly feeling the pressure from officiating this season.
Indiana will take on Las Vegas on Sunday and will also head out on a road trip to face the Storm next Tuesday.
