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Sophie Cunningham injury update: Indiana star gives reaction to diagnosis, reveals possible Fever curse

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp08/20/25
Sophie Cunningham
Jun 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Star Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham will miss the rest of the 2025 WNBA season after suffering an injury to her knee. She remains in good spirits, though.

Cunningham, who also co-hosts the Show Me Something podcast, chimed in on her current outlook following the knee injury. It’s been one thing after another for the Fever this year, who have been without star Caitlin Clark for quite some time now.

“I did tear my MCL, and if you’re going to hurt your knee that is like the best possible case,” Cunningham explained. “So I think the league as a whole, but really us, we’ve just gone through so much adversity. And then injury wise it’s just been… you can’t make this s*** up, to be honest.”

The injury occurred when Sun guard Bria Hartley crashed into Sophie 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. So there was at least a silver lining.

Sophie Cunningham broke down what it felt like when her knee popped. She explained:

“I was just in the paint trying to be help side,” she said. “Someone ran into my knee and it just snapped. And knee injuries are weird to me. I don’t really like thinking about them, but I felt a pop right away.”

With Sophie Cunningham now sidelined for the season, Clark’s return will be more important than ever for the Fever. Indiana finds itself having a strong season despite the considerable adversity.

And Cunningham credited her teammates with re-inspiring her. That’s no small feat.

“I’m really in good spirits because I knew I hurt myself pretty good, but I will just say I’m thankful,” she said. “I know this is not probably the time to say this, but I’m just like thankful to be where I’m at and be with the organization and the girls that I’m with, because they’ve brought like life and my love of basketball back.

“I really am in weirdly like good spirits. I know. I’m just thankful to be where I’m at and thankful for the year that I got. I am going to do be done for the rest of the season, so that sucks.”

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this report.