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INDIANAPOLIS — Sophie Cunningham has a way of endearing herself to fans, and seemingly finds herself amid controversy. She’s fiery, passionate, and went to teach Washington Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen a lesson.
Cunningham, in her first season with the Indiana Fever after being acquired via trade in the offseason, was grabbed from behind by Iriafen on a rebound attempt after a Mystics miss. As they became untangled, Iriafen leaned and Cunningham fell to the floor, but quickly popped up.
Iriafen, who played at Stanford before finishing her career at USC, was then subject to Cunningham’s teaching.
“You don’t (expletive) do that,” Cunningham said approaching Iriafen after the play. “You don’t (expletive) do that.”
Then Cunningham and the Fever walked back to their bench as the officials went to review the play for a hostile act. As they did, Fever players encouraged the crowd to get loud, and they obliged.
It was ruled a Flagrant 1 foul with 5 minutes, 22 seconds left in the first half. It was part of a 17-5 run to close the first half, bringing the Fever within 38-35 of the Mystics. Cunningham has a team-high 12 points.
Who is Indiana Fever wing Sophie Cunningham
Cunningham is in her seventh WNBA season at of Missouri. She played the first six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, where she averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 36.2% from 3.
Who is Washington Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen?
Iriafen was a third-team All American in her final season at USC, where she averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for a team that won the Big Ten and was No. 1 in the country. She played three seasons for the Stanford Cardinal prior to that, averaging 19.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.3 assists in her third season.
She is a rookie for the Mystics who was selected fourth overall.
Why isn’t Caitlin Clark playing?
WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark went through her pregame routine and spoke on her leg injury that added her to the injury report Friday. She was listed as questionable up until tip-off of Saturday’s game against the Mystics, when she was ruled out.
“It’s just a little tightness,” Clark said pregame. “I’ll go through warmups and everything, and then they’ll decide if I’m good or not.”
Said Fever coach Stephanie White pregame: “I mean, look, the biggest thing is we have to think long term. We have to make sure we’re not putting Caitlin at risk for injury, we’re not putting our team in a position where we’re thinking short term and not long term. It’s a long season, four more games than last season, so we want to make sure we’re extra cautious and put her health first and foremost.”
The Fever play Sunday at Clark’s college home, the University of Iowa.
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