​Based on a video she shared to showcase her pregame look for the upcoming game against the Phoenix Mercury, Indiana Fever guard and WNBA star Sophie Cunningham appears poised to take the court on Thursday night. Cunningham, who was listed as questionable due to back spasms she suffered Wednesday night before the matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks, flaunted her pregame outfit on Instagram and seemed unbothered by any back issues.
Her fashion choice leaned into a biker-inspired vibe for the pregame, with Cunningham wearing a bikini-style top underneath. In the caption, she teased the moment with an upbeat vibe, writing, “LETS ENJOY THE RIDE A LITTLE BIT AYYY?” The post provided fans a clear glimpse of Cunningham’s outfit and a sense of her readiness for the game.
Cunningham’s status remains officially questionable as she battles back spasms, and a definitive update will come closer to game time. However, the pregame post strongly hints that she will play. She sustained the injury during pregame warm-ups Wednesday night and was listed as questionable heading into the game, yet she managed to participate and log two points in 11 minutes of action.
This game marks the first Fever-Mercury meeting since a controversial moment involving Fever superstar Caitlin Clark and Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. During the previous June 24 clash, Thomas delivered a number of rough plays, including a knee to the groin and a punch to the throat, which led to Thomas’s suspension for the first game of a subsequent stretch. Clark returned to action Wednesday night against the Sparks, though Indiana chose not to have her participate in back-to-back games as the Fever look to ease her back into action.
Beyond that high-profile confrontation, another notable moment from recent Fever-Mercury play involved Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner. In the June 22 matchup, Cunningham pointed at Bonner for more than 20 seconds, an act that sparked considerable online chatter and even inspired humorous memes. Cunningham later described the reaction as “so goofy” and “fun to see,” citing her favorite meme as the Statue of Liberty rendition of the moment.
If Cunningham takes the floor, eyes will undoubtedly be on her interactions with Bonner in the court and on how the ongoing drama involving Alyssa Thomas and the Fever plays out behind the scenes. The potential return of Cunningham adds another layer of intrigue to this anticipated matchup as fans and analysts watch closely for on-court chemistry, on-court performance, and any lingering tensions from the recent Mercury-Fever saga. Overall, the lead-up to this game is steeped in both competitive stakes and noteworthy subplots, making for a compelling watch for WNBA followers and sports audiences alike.