Things escalated quickly in the closing moments of the Indiana Fever’s intense showdown with the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. With less than a minute left on the clock, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was ejected following a scuffle under the basket. It was the latest flashpoint in a game marked by hard fouls and rising tempers.
After the dust settled and the Fever sealed an 88-71 victory, Cunningham took to Instagram with a cryptic post that quickly grabbed attention online. Her message added another layer of intrigue to a matchup that already featured multiple technicals, flagrant contact, and a near-brawl that highlighted just how heated things got in Indiana.
Sophie Cunningham’s Late-Game Foul Sparks Brawl and Results in Double Ejection
With under a minute left and the Fever clinging to a late lead, Connecticut guard Jacy Sheldon drove to the basket against Cunningham. The Fever guard wrapped her arms around Sheldon’s upper body and pulled her to the ground, prompting a scuffle involving multiple players.
Sheldon and teammate Lindsay Allen immediately confronted Cunningham. All three were ejected after the altercation escalated into shoving. Fever head coach Stephanie White later called it “pretty obvious that stuff was brewing.” She cited a lack of control by the officiating crew throughout the game.
Sun coach Rachid Meziane opened his press conference by saying they “found our character,” but “lost our mind.”
RE: this play (full quote attached): “For me, it’s just disrespectful to do that foul when you’re winning the game by 17 points. Completely stupid.” https://t.co/YjTHriM0Ye pic.twitter.com/Hql9SHg4Zn
– hank 🇰🇷 (@Brian_Haenchen) June 18, 2025
Sun head coach Rachid Meziane didn’t hold back, either.
“For me, it’s just disrespectful to do that foul when you are winning the game by 17 points,” Meziane told reporters postgame. “Completely stupid.”
MORE: Caitlin Clark Reveals Why She Focuses on ‘Entertaining’ Indiana Fans During Every Fever Game
Sheldon had already been involved in physical exchanges earlier, including a third-quarter play where she poked Caitlin Clark in the eye. That incident resulted in a Flagrant 1 on Sheldon and technical fouls on the Fever’s Marina Mabrey, Clark, and Sun center Tina Charles.
Cunningham, who joined the Fever this offseason via trade from the Phoenix Mercury, had been standing up for Clark all game. And while her response drew plenty of criticism from the Sun bench, it didn’t seem to faze her.
Cunningham Posted an Funny Photo on Instagram After Her Ejection
Just hours after the Fever’s win, Cunningham posted an Instagram story with her arms outstretched and a smile on her face. The post was widely interpreted as a response to her critics. It circulated across social media platforms, with fans calling it a subtle clapback.
Cunningham’s foul came in direct response to the physical treatment Clark had received all game.
Cunningham has never shied away from playing with an edge, and her postgame response only reinforced that reputation. This time, however, it felt like more than just bravado. For Fever fans, it marked a turning point. They saw a teammate standing up for Clark when it mattered most.
With Clark taking hit after hit in a physical contest, Cunningham’s late-game foul and fiery exit sent a message that Indiana was done backing down. In a season still taking shape, that kind of fight could be exactly what this young roster needs to rally around.