Monday 4th August 2025

Closeup of a basketball with the WNBA logo and text. Raleigh^ NC - USA - 06-13-2024

Mizzou alumna and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was fined this week by the WNBA for a video she posted to social media critical of the league’s refs.

ESPN reports that a video Cunningham posted to her TikTok on July 18 showed her lip-synching to lyrics from pop star Sabrina Carpenter, along with the caption, “@ some refs”. The video has been viewed over 1.3 million times. Cunningham posted Wednesday on another social media account that the league had fined her $500 for the video. WNBA players and fans, particularly those with the Fever, have expressed criticism this season over what they view as inconsistent calls by league officials, especially when it comes to calls involving Cunningham’s teammate, Caitlin Clark.

Cunningham joined the Fever this season on a trade from Phoenix and has assumed a role as a staunch protector of Clark. A high-profile altercation late in the Fever’s 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on June 17 saw Cunningham and the Sun’s Jacy Sheldon were ejected. The scuffle broke out after an earlier incident where Sheldon had poked Clark in the eye, followed by Sheldon’s teammate Marina Mabrey shoving Clark to the floor.