The Indiana Fever are facing the Phoenix Mercury.
Sophie Cunningham News Surfaces After Unexpected Removal From Indiana Fever Lineup originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham started against her former team on Thursday night at Footprint Center. Spending the first six seasons of her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury, Cunningham was traded to Indiana this offseason where she has since appeared in 26 games for the Fever.
Getting her ninth start of the season on Thursday night against Phoenix, Cunningham came out on fire. The former Missouri standout poured in 12 first-half points, including three makes from 3-point range on just four attempts.
This offensive explosion kept Indiana in the game, as the Fever took a 47-36 deficit into halftime.
Sophie Cunningham knocks down another three less than 20 seconds later 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XGjkxcb2w6
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 8, 2025
Sophie Cunningham Benched to Start Second Half
Despite leading Indiana in scoring entering halftime, Cunningham was not in Stephanie White's starting lineup to begin the third quarter. This was a move that had fans confused when it was aggregated by Underdog WNBA on X that Lexie Hull had replaced Cunningham.
"Ya no clue why Sophie is killing it tonight and Lexi isn’t really good," said one fan.
"For what," asked another.
"Makes no sense," said one.
"Why????" another asked.
"I’m so confused," said another.
"This is actually [expletive] malpractice," claimed one.
Sophie Cunningham Injury News Surfaces During Mercury Game
Just minutes after Cunningham's benching to start the second half, it was reported by Chloe Peterson of IndyStar that the Fever guard is dealing with an ankle injury. What's interesting, is Cunningham's current injury is to her left ankle — not the right ankle she missed time with earlier this season.
"Sophie Cunningham didn't start the second half because of her left ankle, I'm told," Peterson wrote on X. "Still available, obviously, as she just checked into the game. She's wearing a brace on her right ankle, the one she injured earlier this season."
Sophie Cunningham didn't start the second half because of her left ankle, I'm told.
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) August 8, 2025
Still available, obviously, as she just checked into the game. She's wearing a brace on her right ankle, the one she injured earlier this season.
Cunningham did indeed check in off the bench, hitting another 3-point shot quickly after reentering. Making another shortly after, the seventh-year guard upped her scoring total to a season-high 18 points before the fourth quarter began.
Here were Cunningham's previous highest-scoring games of the 2025 WNBA season:
- 17 points vs Seattle Storm on Aug. 3, 2025
- 16 points vs Atlanta Dream on July 11, 2025Â
- 15 points vs New York Liberty on July 22, 2025Â
- 15 points vs Las Vegas Aces on July 24, 2025
Surpassing all of these before the fourth quarter began, Cunningham did her best to give Indiana a chance against a Mercury team the Fever are chasing in the WNBA standings.
Related: Sophie Cunningham Admits New Career Move Might Get Her Canceled
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
