The Indiana Fever‘s season is over, but Sophie Cunningham hasn’t stopped ruffling feathers around the WNBA.
The upcoming free agent discussed Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson pointing at a Fever fan in Game 2 of their playoff series, concluding: “Grow up.”
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Wilson and Cunningham got tangled in Game 2, with Cunningham called for a foul. From behind the basket, a fan pointed at Wilson, apparently believing she had committed the foul.
Wilson took exception, walking toward the fan and yelling, “You don’t point at me!” Wilson was assessed a technical foul. The fan left the court briefly, talked with security, then returned.
The Fever won Game 2, but the Aces won Game 3 and advanced to the league semifinals.
Cunningham took a deep dive on the issue on her “No Hesitation” podcast.
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“We yell from the rooftops that we want equality, that we want to be treated like the men, that we want all this stuff and we deserve all these things. And we do,” she said. “We do deserve it, right?
“But if you’re asking for all these fans to come and you have new fans who are real sports fans, and they come and do something that a sports fan would probably do if you’re on the opposing team, and then we’re going to go for them for just pointing, saying that you fouled. … Like, grow up. What are we doing?”
Cunningham’s profile grew throughout the season, partly for her playing style and also her stance on social issues. And she has had her own instance of finger-pointing.
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“I, hands down, have probably got (expletive) on the entire season … people coming after who I am, my character, what I stand for, x, y, z. I could go on and on,” she said. “I’ve heard the worst of the worst. It’s part of it. Like, who cares?
“You should be grateful to be playing basketball for a living and inspiring the next generation.”
“I’m not saying this guy did anything wrong. … (Wilson’s reaction) could have called for a suspension. But, you know, she’s like the LeBron James of our league, so of course they’re not going to suspend her,” Cunningham said, noting that some Aces players left the bench area, which is against the rules.
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Wilson has won four WNBA MVP honors, and is likely to add a fifth this year.
“We wanted (Wilson) to play (in Game 3). I think that makes for good basketball,” Cunningham said. “If we had won, and if she wouldn’t have been there, I don’t think it would have been fair. I think we would have gotten a lot of backlash from that.
“(But) for someone pointing at you and saying, ‘That foul was on you.’ Grow up.”
