The WNBA Finals are set to tip off Saturday, but the conversation this week has been hijacked by a heated feud—and a controversial accusation that has fans seeing red.
On her No Hesitation podcast, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham took aim at Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese over her physical play in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Liberty. Cunningham didn't hold back, criticizing Reese for not receiving a technical foul in Game 3 and going as far as accusing the All-Star forward of attempting to injure her opponent.
“I appreciate her having her teammate’s back. I think that just shows that she care and that she has love for her teammates. Here’s my thing, if you’re going to chase someone down the court and get in someone’s ear, that should be a tech, any time. It’s going to be a tech in the regular season. Any other playoff games, that’s a technical foul. You can’t do that,” Cunningham said. “Now if she were to stay on her side and kind of just yell and say something, I’m all for that. But the fact that she didn’t get a tech on that I think that is absolutely insane.”
She then dropped the line that ignited the firestorm: “Angel is going to play hard. But you can’t tackle someone in the air and go for someone's knees and ankles.”
The reaction was swift and brutal. Reese’s supporters flooded social media, calling Cunningham out for what they see as a blatant lie and a desperate attempt to stay relevant.
“The call is coming from inside of the house. When has Angel ever tackled someone…let alone in the air??” one fan posted.
“Because when has Angel tackled someone in the air. She really is always just telling lies for no reason,” another replied.
The criticism wasn't just about the accusation—it also dredged up Cunningham’s own history. Fans were quick to remind everyone of her past incident with Jacy Sheldon, when she was accused of attacking the guard in a game involving Caitlin Clark. “The same Sophie Cunningham who ATTACKED Jacy Sheldon for Caitlin Clark? After attacking Jacy then tried to push weak 'enforcer' as a nickname I know that's who isn't yapping?” one user wrote.
Another fan summed up the sentiment: “She has nothing else going for herself but rage bait and bold face lying at this point.”
This isn't the first time Cunningham has found herself in hot water—earlier this season, a fake tweet attributed to her caused a stir, and she's been at the center of media double-standard debates. But this latest controversy has put her directly in the crosshairs of Reese's loyal fanbase, who are defending their star.
Reese, meanwhile, is letting her play do the talking. She's averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds this postseason, leading the Dream to their first Finals appearance in franchise history. After the series-clinching win, she made it clear she's not satisfied yet.
“Just knowing I belong here,” Reese said. “Knowing, coming to Atlanta, how much I wanted to help this team and do whatever it takes. Not just to get out of the first round, not just to get out the semis, but to make it to the Finals and win a championship. And the job is not done. We’re definitely happy about where we are right now, but we’re not satisfied.”
Her playoff dominance has even sparked comparisons to Caitlin Clark's postseason struggles, and the Reese Effect is clearly real at the box office. But for now, the spotlight is on Cunningham's words—and the backlash shows no signs of cooling down.
Game 1 of the WNBA Finals begins Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC. One thing's for sure: all eyes will be on Reese, and Cunningham's comments will only add fuel to the fire.
