Intentionally or otherwise, often, the common denominator for incidents in the WNBA tends to be Bria Hartley. Once again, for the second game running, she’s involved in controversy. It was only a few days ago that she was involved in an on-court fight during the Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky game.
Unfortunately, the latest incident has resulted in Sophie Cunningham suffering a worrisome injury. Hartley went to the ground and bundled into her knee during Sunday’s clash between the struggling Sun and injury-ravaged playoff hopefuls, the Indiana Fever.
Fans, including Cunningham’s sister Lindsey, have taken to X regarding the incident, and many believe the WNBA needs to take more decisive action in disciplining Hartley. The question is, could it have been avoided?
WNBA Fans Furious With Bria Hartley for Injuring Sophie Cunningham
Let’s start by looking at the incident in question:
Sophie Cunningham heads to the locker room after this Hartley pass and crash on her right leg. Oh my god 💔 pic.twitter.com/ZTTPYnhkTs
— AK (@Sudharsan_AK10) August 17, 2025
Hartley attempts to pass into the corner while forcing contact with Kelsey Mitchell, but as she falls, she extends her body into Cunningham’s unprotected lower leg, which isn’t a good look. It appears her momentum carried her, so some could argue it was accidental.
However, pairing this with the many other incidents that follow the player, the court of public opinion isn’t really in her favor.
.@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you .@sophaller 🙏🏼❤️
— Lindsey Cunningham (@Lbreezzyy) August 17, 2025
Sophie’s younger sister, Lindsey Cunningham, did not mince words as she demanded some accountability from the WNBA. She believes poor officiating is partly to blame for not protecting athletes enough.
“Maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating and more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic.”
Fans on X were understandably incensed at the injury, as one fan called Hartley a “Dirty player.”
“She knew exactly what she was doing here.”
She’s a dirty player,
She knew exactly what she was doing here.— Micah McAwe (@mrMicahmcawe) August 17, 2025
Another fan felt “there was absolutely no reason for Hartley to fall to the floor there and especially not directly into Sophie’s leg.”
Meanwhile, another fan went as far as to ask for Hartley to be punished: “She has hurt about three players now.”
While WNBA and Fever fans wait for the update on Cunningham’s knee injury, the debate about Hartley’s conduct on the court will continue. The question is, will the WNBA act on it?
Of course it was intentional, and probably racially motivated, given Sophies ‘tell it like it is’ vocal honesty. A suspension should finally be implemented for this dirty player, perhaps more…