The Indiana Fever are holding their breath as they await the MRI results for guard Sophie Cunningham, who sustained a painful right knee injury during their recent game against the Connecticut Sun on August 17, 2025. The incident occurred in the second quarter when Sun guard Bria Hartley lost her balance and collided with Cunningham's right knee while driving to the basket. Cunningham immediately fell to the floor in obvious pain and was helped off the court. She was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Fever coach Stephanie White expressed concern, stating the way Cunningham fell and the amount of pain she was in was worrying. Cunningham's sister also criticized WNBA officiating after the injury. The team confirmed that Cunningham would undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.
The injury is a significant blow to the Fever, who are already battling a series of injuries, including the absence of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Cunningham has been a consistent presence, averaging nearly 26 minutes per game with 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists this season. Her absence will force the Fever to rely on an already thin rotation. To bolster their backcourt, Indiana signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims and rookie Kyra Lambert to hardship contracts last week.
Despite Cunningham's injury, the Fever managed to pull off a historic comeback win against the Sun, overcoming a 21-point deficit to win 99-93 in overtime. Kelsey Mitchell led the charge with a career-high-tying 38 points. Mitchell scored 34 of her 38 points in the second half and overtime. Aliyah Boston also contributed with 14 points and 13 rebounds, setting a new single-season Fever record with her 15th double-double of the year.
The Fever's resilience in the face of adversity has been a defining characteristic of their season. "We came in at halftime, we talked about chipping away, being resilient," Boston said. "That's kind of been our story this entire season". Coach White emphasized the importance of staying focused: "We've got to be where our feet are," she said. "We can't look too far behind us. We can't look too far in front of us".
However, the loss to the Wings and the Mystics at home earlier in the week has impacted Indiana's standing in the power rankings. ESPN's new power rankings have the Fever at seventh out of the league's 13 teams, a drop of one spot from the previous week.
Looking ahead, the Fever face a tough challenge with back-to-back meetings against the top-ranked Minnesota Lynx. The team's ability to continue to persevere despite injuries will be tested.
The WNBA community is anxiously awaiting the results of Cunningham's MRI. If the injury is a minor sprain, she could return in a few weeks, potentially in time for the Fever's game against the Minnesota Lynx on August 23. However, a more serious injury could sideline her for an extended period, potentially impacting the Fever's playoff hopes. Sports injury expert Dr. Sutterer believes the most likely outcome is a potential injury to the MCL ligament or a kneecap dislocation.
