The 2025 WNBA season ended abruptly for Sophie Cunningham. An MCL injury suffered earlier this month derailed the Indiana Fever star’s campaign, adding to a string of misfortunes that have plagued the team. While the Fever now face a season without one of their key players, Cunningham is already locked in on the long road back to the court.
How Is Sophie Cunningham Handling Her Recovery?
In a recent episode of the “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham opened up about her injury and the subsequent surgery. Although her return to the court is a long way off, her mindset is already fixed on getting better.
“Honestly, real good,” Cunningham told her co-host, West Wilson. “Like…they went in there and everything… Oh, listen to this. They said for my age and for what I do for a living, that my knees are looking real nice.”
When Wilson asked about her physical therapy, Cunningham provided some insight into the initial stages of her rehabilitation.
“A little bit. I’ve been doing a little bit of rehab. Lots of icing…just trying to like, get extension,” she explained. “‘Cause I guess with this knee surgery, I thought it’d be like…the bending is what would be the hardest. But it’s actually getting it straight. So a lot of people who get it…they have like a little curve in their knee because they can’t straighten their leg. So I’ve been really trying to work on getting my legs straight.”
To keep herself busy, she also admitted to doing some food reviews in her free time. Wilson, a TV personality and Cunningham’s best friend, offered his support and advice during the conversation.
What Happened Right After Cunningham’s Injury?
In a previous episode of the same podcast, Cunningham revealed that she attempted to move around immediately after getting hurt, a decision she quickly regretted.
“I can walk [now]. I actually, you know what? I tried to kind of right when it [injury] happened. I went into the locker room when like the docs were checking it out, and then I went back to shower just so I could be clean and then do rehab or treatment,” said Cunningham. “And I was like, you know what? Maybe I’m not that hurt, and I tried kind of running a little bit, and I almost ate sh-t in the shower by myself because my knee was just like bleh.”
Fans have rallied around Cunningham since the injury, sending prayers for a speedy recovery. However, there is no official timeline for Cunningham’s return yet. The surgery marks only the beginning of a lengthy recovery process that could take up to 12 months. This extended timeline suggests that even with a successful rehabilitation, she may not be ready for the start of the 2026 WNBA season in May.
Meanwhile, her absence puts the Fever in an even tougher spot. The team was already navigating injuries to key players like Caitlin Clark and Aari McDonald, and losing Cunningham only adds to a season marked by bad luck, casting serious doubt on their championship aspirations.
