Chaos erupted in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s WNBA matchup as Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was ejected after a heated confrontation with officials during the Fever’s game against the Portland Fire.
With the Fever winning 68 – 43 and momentum shifting toward the home side, Cunningham drew a second technical foul at the 4:47 mark following a non-call on a drive to the basket. The 25-year-old sharpshooter immediately exploded in frustration, gesturing wildly and shouting at lead official Marcus Greene. Video captured by courtside cameras showed Cunningham yelling, “That’s three times you’ve missed it!” before being assessed the technical that resulted in her automatic ejection.
Teammates rushed to intervene as Cunningham continued protesting on her way to the locker room, slapping a courtside chair in disgust. The sellout crowd at Moda Center erupted in a mix of boos and cheers, turning an already physical contest into a spectacle.
Head coach Christie Sides appeared visibly upset on the sideline, later telling reporters, “Sophie is a competitor. She plays with passion and fire. Tonight that fire got the best of her, but we all saw the contact. We’ve got to protect our players out there.”
Cunningham, averaging 18.4 points per game this season and known for her fiery on-court demeanor, had already scored 14 points before her exit, including three three-pointers. Her absence left a noticeable void in Indiana’s perimeter defense and scoring punch. The Fever mounted a late comeback but ultimately fell 92-87 in a tightly contested battle.
Fellow Fever star Caitlin Clark, who finished with 26 points and 9 assists, expressed support for her teammate postgame: “Sophie wears her heart on her sleeve. We’re a family. We’ll learn from this and move forward together.”
League officials have not yet announced potential fines or suspensions, but sources indicate the incident is under review. Cunningham is expected to address the media before the team’s next contest.
The loss drops Indiana to 8-5 on the season while Portland improves to 6-7. The two teams will meet again in two weeks in Indianapolis