Sophie Cunningham took a hard shot to the head during the Indiana Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun. What happened next on social media has everyone talking. After critics called her a flopper, Cunningham fired back with receipts that proved exactly what kind of hit she actually absorbed.
Why Did Sophie Cunningham Call Out Her Critics on Social Media?
During one of the Fever’s offensive possessions, Cunningham was unexpectedly elbowed in the head by the Sun’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa. The hit looked anything but accidental.
Despite the impact, officials made no call on the play. Still, Cunningham didn’t stay down for long. The veteran forward popped right back up, brushed off the hit, and walked it off.
After the game, Cunningham reposted a replay video of the elbow on X and used the moment to clap back at her critics.
“They said I flopped. el oh el,” wrote Cunningham as the caption of the post.
they said I flopped. el oh el. https://t.co/EV3W5LKkRK
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 16, 2025
Her post quickly went viral, with Fever fans and Cunningham supporters flooding the comments. Many responded by comparing the hit to examples of real flops in the NBA where players dramatically fall or exaggerate contact to draw fouls.
What Makes the Fever-Sun Rivalry So Heated This Season?
Connecticut’s style of play has been consistently physical when facing Indiana in the 2024-25 campaign. The tension between the two teams boiled over earlier on June 17, during an explosive clash that made headlines across the league.
In that game, Caitlin Clark was guarding Sun rookie Jacy Sheldon in the third quarter when Sheldon’s arm flung upward and struck Clark in the face. Visibly frustrated, Clark turned to confront Sheldon and was immediately bumped again.
Trying to create space, Clark gave Sheldon a light push, which triggered a much more aggressive response. Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey charged in and forcefully body-checked Clark, which sent her crashing to the hardwood. Officials stepped in to break up the scuffle.
Mabrey initially received a technical and was not ejected, but her technical was upgraded to a flagrant 2 hours after the game. Clark was hit with a technical, and Sheldon was assessed a flagrant 1 for the initial contact.
But the drama didn’t end there.
With less than a minute left in the game, Sheldon drove to the basket only to be pulled down from behind by none other than Cunningham. Cunningham grabbed Sheldon by the head and yanked her to the ground. Many fans saw it as retaliation for Clark.
Cunningham was ejected immediately and hit with a flagrant 2. She was also fined after the game. Sheldon and Lindsay Allen were also ejected during the game.
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM PAYBACK ON JACY SHELDON
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) June 18, 2025
Fast forward to the July 15 game. After going through a rough stretch in the 2024-25 season, the Indiana Fever are finally starting to build momentum. The Fever secured their 12th victory of the season with an 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun in which Cunningham played a crucial role as she scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds.
The Fever led by two at halftime. Although the Sun made a push in the third quarter, Indiana dominated the fourth (23-17), closing out the game strong. However, the win came with a downside as Clark suffered what looked like a non-contact groin injury late in the game.
Looking ahead, the Fever are set to face a tough test on July 16 as they visit the Barclays Center to take on the New York Liberty.
