​Prior to last night’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham dealt with back spasms during pregame warm-ups. Initially listed as questionable to play, Cunningham ultimately took the floor and logged 11 minutes, contributing two points. Ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Phoenix Mercury, Cunningham remains uncertain to play at tip-off. Here’s what we know so far.
The Fever’s official injury report lists Cunningham as questionable due to back spasms. While a definitive decision has not been made, the questionable designation signals there is a real possibility she could sit out. We’ll provide an update as soon as more information becomes available.
Notably, Cunningham’s limited playing time on Wednesday night—just 11 minutes, far below her season average of 22.4 minutes per game—along with her two-point scoring total, suggested she wasn’t at full strength. Given that this contest came on the second night of a back-to-back, the Fever may opt for caution and rest Cunningham even if she’s medically able to go.
In other news surrounding Cunningham, she recently drew attention after a memorable moment in a June 22 game when she engaged in a pointing stand-off with Bonner. The moment sparked a flurry of memes across social media. Cunningham later reflected on the incident, reliving the scene and describing the event as “stupid” but admitting that Bonner’s reaction was intense. She explained that she was simply pointing and that Bonner escalated the situation, noting that she initially told herself not to respond but ultimately could not help herself in the moment.
Despite any lingering tension from that episode, Cunningham and Bonner’s teams did not encounter ongoing issues in their next meeting. However, that subsequent game was marred by controversy: Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas delivered multiple cheap shots to Caitlin Clark, prompting Thomas’s suspension. This marks Cunningham’s first game since that incident, but Clark and Thomas will not be on the floor together in the near term, as Clark has been ruled out after returning for Wednesday night’s Sparks game against the Fever.
Looking ahead, the Fever are proceeding with caution regarding Clark in the second game of the back-to-back. Clark is still expected to be available to play on Sunday night against the Las Vegas Aces. Cunningham’s status remains a focal point for Indiana as they prepare for the upcoming clash with the Mercury, with decisions about her participation anticipated closer to tip-off. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.