Sophie Cunningham injury update: Fever guard to miss remainder of 2025 WNBA season

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham will miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season due to injury, the team announced Tuesday. Cunningham suffered an injury against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, hurting her right knee.

“Cunningham sustained a season-ending injury in her right knee during the second quarter of the game and is expected to make a full recovery,” the release read. “In a corresponding move, the Fever have signed guard Shey Peddy to a seven-day hardship contract and released guard Kyra Lambert.”

The injury occurred when Sun guard Bria Hartley crashed into Cunningham on a drive to the basket. Hartley seemingly fell onto the lower part of Cunningham’s leg, causing the Fever star to hobble away on one leg while clutching her injured knee.

Eventually, Cunningham fell to the floor and had to be helped to the locker room. She didn’t return to the game. With Cunningham out, the Fever rallied together and mounted a 21-point comeback, the largest in the franchise’s history.

Kelsey Mitchell was spectacular in the victory, tallying 39 points. It is tied for the most points a WNBA player has scored in a single game this season. Cunningham cheered on her teammate online, tweeting, “KELSEY FREAKIN MITCHELL.”

While the Fever were able to pull out a win on Sunday, Indiana fans will be sad to know Cunningham won’t return this year. The former Missouri standout has been pivotal to the team’s success this season, averaging 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the arc.

Cunningham’s step up in production has been particularly important while Fever star Caitlin Clark has been sidelined. Clark last played on July 15 and has missed 21 total games this season.

After Cunningham left the game with her injury, her sister blasted the WNBA online, seemingly claiming Hartley intentionally hurt Sophie.

“@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,” she wrote.

Sophie Cunningham’s sister wasn’t the only family member who was frustrated with the injury. Cunningham’s mother took aim at Hartley following Sophie’s misfortune: “Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control.”

The Fever will take the court next on Friday against the Minnesota Lynx at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ION.