Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is catching heat after a fiery podcast episode where she took direct aim at the Phoenix Mercury, calling them the league's least-liked squad. The remarks, made on her Show Me Podcast alongside former reality TV star West Wilson, have drawn sharp criticism from a prominent WNBA journalist who labeled them highly unprofessional.
During the episode, Cunningham didn't mince words when discussing the ongoing tension between Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas. She claimed that everyone around the league shares her dim view of the Mercury. “I know people in their own organization — no one likes their team this year,” Cunningham said. “They say that they’re the unfriendliest group. So we’re not the only ones who feel that way. Internal people feel that way too.”
The comments were a clear defense of Clark, who was trolled by the Mercury after an incident involving Thomas. But not everyone saw it as honest candor. USA TODAY WNBA reporter Meaghan L. Hall took to X to slam Cunningham, writing: “Goodness gracious. I — 1) This is wildly unprofessional. 2) How is this helping with the points at everything current discourse? 3) There is not any scenario that exists where a player should be saying this about any organization.”
Hall’s critique has sparked a debate among fans, many of whom are siding with Cunningham. One fan fired back: “Tell Sheryl Swoopes. She claimed it throughout 2024 about the Fever. Tell Linn Dunn and Stephanie White’s buddy. He was claiming the Fever office doesn’t like a specific player! That’s even worse. Sophie is fighting fire with fire. And I’m Team Sophie!”
Another fan pointed to the Mercury’s own behavior: “The same organization who unprofessionally put out a graphic mocking Caitlin getting a hand to throat.”
Cunningham, now in her second season with the Fever, has never been one to shy away from controversy. Her pregame fashion choices and outspoken podcast appearances have made her a polarizing figure. But this latest outburst may cross a line for league officials who expect players to maintain a code of professionalism.
For her part, Cunningham seems unlikely to back down. The Fever guard has built a reputation for speaking her mind, and her supporters argue that a podcast is the perfect place for unfiltered opinions. Still, the accusation of highly unprofessional behavior could have repercussions if the WNBA decides to intervene.
The Mercury have not publicly responded to Cunningham’s comments, but the tension between the two teams is unlikely to cool anytime soon. With the season heating up, all eyes will be on the next Fever-Mercury matchup to see if any of this spills onto the court.
