The Indiana Fever have announced that guard Sophie Cunningham will miss the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season after suffering a right knee injury during their game against the Connecticut Sun on August 17. The injury occurred in the second quarter when Sun guard Bria Hartley fell into the side of Cunningham's leg. Cunningham immediately grabbed her leg, hopped to the baseline, and then fell to the floor in pain. She had to be helped off the court by the Fever training staff and did not return to the game.
An MRI revealed that Cunningham suffered a torn MCL. The Fever expect her to make a full recovery, but she will not be able to return to the court this season. While the team did not initially offer specifics on the injury, it was later confirmed to be an MCL tear. MCL tears can take varying amounts of time to heal, depending on the severity, but it will be a long enough recovery to keep her out for the rest of the season.
This is a significant blow to the Fever, who are already dealing with injuries to other key players, including Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald. Cunningham has been a valuable contributor to the team, averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. She has also been a strong defender and a reliable three-point shooter. Prior to the injury, Cunningham was shooting 50.7% from beyond the arc in her last 16 games. She previously missed five games earlier in the season due to ankle injuries.
In a corresponding move, the Fever have signed guard Shey Peddy to a seven-day hardship contract and released guard Kyra Lambert. Peddy is a six-year WNBA veteran who has played for the Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury, and Los Angeles Sparks. Most recently, she averaged 5.0 points and 2.7 assists in six games with the Sparks. Lambert, who was on a seven-day hardship contract, made her WNBA debut in the same game where Cunningham was injured.
Coach Stephanie White acknowledged the difficulty of Cunningham's absence but emphasized the need for the team to focus on problem-solving and finding ways to win. Despite the injury, the Fever rallied to defeat the Sun in overtime, showcasing their resilience.
Teammate Caitlin Clark shared an encouraging message to Cunningham on Instagram, writing "Love you always soph". Cunningham also posted a message on X, thanking fans for their birthday wishes and prayers.
The Fever have faced a series of injuries this season, impacting their roster depth. The loss of Cunningham further complicates their playoff aspirations as they navigate the remaining games of the regular season.
