UNCASVILLE, CT – Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham exited Sunday’s game against the Connecticut Sun with a right knee injury, forcing her to leave the court in visible pain. The incident occurred in the second quarter of the matchup on August 17, 2025.
According to a report from the Times of India, the injury happened when Sun guard Bria Hartley fell awkwardly and landed directly on Cunningham’s right knee. Cunningham immediately collapsed and was unable to put weight on her leg, requiring assistance to get to the locker room. The Fever announced she would not return to the game.
Fever head coach Stephanie White was asked about the injury after the game but provided no immediate update. As reported by CBS Sports, White described her reaction to seeing the injury, stating, “I’m like, ‘Holy s—’…how much pain she was in…it’s like, crap.”
Cunningham is scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the damage. While no official diagnosis has been released, a sports injury expert cited by Sports Illustrated suggested the injury could be a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear or a kneecap dislocation, with an ACL tear considered less likely. The recovery timeline for such injuries could range from weeks to months, adding to an already significant list of sidelined players for the Fever.
The injury has been a major topic of discussion among basketball fans and analysts, with many in the sports community, including enthusiasts in places like Pakistan, closely following the developments and awaiting the results of the MRI.