Fever’s Sophie Cunningham Leaves Game vs Sun With Right Knee Injury

The guard went down in the second quarter after Bria Hartley slipped into her knee, leaving Indiana to adjust without one of its toughest playmakers.

Arun UpadhayayAugust 17, 2025

16,462 3 minutes read

August 17 EST: You could hear the air leave Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a heartbeat. One slip, one collision, and suddenly Sophie Cunningham, the firebrand guard who’s been giving the Indiana Fever their edge all season, was sprawled on the hardwood clutching her right knee. It wasn’t just an injury timeout. It was a gut punch to a team and a fanbase that’s been clawing for every inch of momentum.

The Collision That Silenced The Crowd

It happened midway through the second quarter, bang-bang, nothing dirty about it. Bria Hartley of the Connecticut Sun lost her footing and toppled into Cunningham, crashing into that right knee. You didn’t need slow motion to see it hurt. Cunningham dropped instantly, hands locked around her leg, her face twisted in the kind of pain that makes teammates sprint and fans bite their lips.

The Fever faithful, loud all night until then, froze. You could’ve heard sneakers squeak three sections away.

A Season That Can’t Afford Another Blow

Let’s be honest Indiana’s been banged up, bruised, and written off before. But Cunningham? She’s been the heartbeat in the gaps, the one who spaces the floor when defenses swarm the paint, the one who plays like every possession is personal. Losing her even just for the rest of this game felt like ripping out a page of the playbook the Fever can’t afford to toss.

Moments later, the official word came from the team’s account “Sophie Cunningham (right knee) will not return.” Cold, clinical, no sugarcoating. That was that.

Helped Off, Head Held High

Credit to Cunningham even while limping off with trainers at her side, she never dropped her head. She gave the bench a nod, and you could tell she wanted to stay, tape it up, gut it out. But this wasn’t one of those “walk it off” knocks. This was serious enough that there was no debate.

According to Sports Illustrated, she was in “visible distress.” On3 confirmed she needed help to the locker room. And if you were in the building, you didn’t need a reporter’s words to know it fans were on their feet, clapping, chanting her name, trying to will her back into the fight.

What’s Next Is Anyone’s Guess

Right now? No MRI results, no timetable, no clue if this is a bruise or a bombshell. That’s the cruel thing about knees they hold your whole season in a twist of fate. Maybe she’s back in a week. Maybe we don’t see her again till next year. Nobody knows, and the Fever aren’t saying yet.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about losing a shooter or a scrapper. This is about rhythm. The Fever had been finding theirs, grinding through a season where every stop, every bucket, every role matters. Cunningham’s been part of that identity tough, unshaken, a little fiery. Without her, lineups change, spacing changes, the energy shifts.

And in a playoff race where one win can swing you from in to out? That matters.

For Now, Just Waiting

For now, it’s a waiting game. The fans will hit refresh on their feeds until a doctor’s verdict drops. The Fever will patch the rotation as best they can. And Cunningham? She’ll probably be the first one in the gym Monday morning, fighting to find out what’s next.

The hope, for Indiana and for the WNBA, is that this isn’t the last we see of Sophie Cunningham this season. Because if you’ve watched her play, you know she doesn’t just fill a stat sheet. She fills the room with fight. And right now, the Fever need every ounce of it.

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Arun Upadhayay

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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.

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Fever’s Sophie Cunningham Leaves Game vs Sun With Right Knee Injury