Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is a seasoned WNBA star. The 29-year-old has struggled with consistency and a lack of silverware in her professional career. This season was seen as the turning point for Indiana, as they looked strong in their bid for the championship. However, all hopes were dashed as Fever endured an injury-marred campaign.
Despite this, they enjoyed a spirited playoff run, which ended in a Game 5 loss against the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA semifinals. The sting of a season-ending injury and a heartbreaking playoff exit can be so profound that watching the championship from the sidelines becomes unbearable.
For Cunningham, the disappointment is so raw she’s made a blunt admission: she can’t bring herself to watch a single minute of the WNBA Finals. But what’s the real reason behind it?
Why is Sophie Cunningham Revealed not Watching the WNBA Finals?
In the latest episode of her podcast, ‘Show me Something,’ Cunningham revealed why she hasn’t watched a single minute of the WNBA Finals between the Aces and the Phoenix Mercury since the Fever’s exit in the semifinals.
Cunningham said, “Dude, in the past, I’ve watched the finals, but I just think this year, with all the injuries and all the s*** our team went through, I really need a break from it. Good luck to whoever is going to win. I don’t, I honestly don’t care who wins this finals. And I don’t, I’ll be quiet. I’m stopping myself.”
The Fever dealt with their fair share of injuries, as five of their potential first-choice starters missed a decent amount of playing time due to various injuries. Three players were sidelined for the remaining campaign in August, including Aari McDonald (broken bone on right foot), Sydney Colson (torn left ACL), and Cunningham (torn MCL).
Two more players were sidelined in early September, including Caitlin Clark (groin) and Chloe Bibby (knee). The injuries left Indiana’s roster shorthanded as the playoffs approached. Despite the remaining players’ valiant efforts, they lost the semifinals against the Aces, who are currently three up against the Mercury in the WNBA finals.
The Indiana Fever Star Discussed Her Knee Rehab Progression
In the podcast, Sophie gave some health updates regarding her knee rehab. She said, “No, cast. I haven’t had one for a while. I’m not the most patient person. I do pray for patients, but I kind of let myself get out of that cast without a doctor’s order. But I had my checkup and they told me, you’re progressing really well. And you look awesome.”
She added, “I can bend it past where they want it, but it’s not equivalent to my other leg. And so I think I’ll work on that because I want my leg to be straight. But honestly, I’m at the point now that I’m ready to kind of get back lifting weights and get moving.”
The Fever star will aim to complete her rehab soon and start training for the next WNBA season.
