Veteran guard Sophie Cunningham has stepped up her game this season to a point where she is now an integral part of the Indiana Fever's rise up the league standings.
The 29-year-old has slowly become the team's 'glue,' where she proactively making sure every teammate is on the same page. But just being a leader is not enough to have a place on a team that is fighting for the championship.
Last season, the Missouri native was a major contributor off the bench until she tore her ACL. This time, she is doing the same and has become an important bench contributor.
Cunningham became famous for her ability to stand up for her teammates. However, her performance on the court for the past month has been the reason she has earned her team's respect, and that of her opponents.
The latter know that, and are careful not to engage with the feisty guard in trash talk and taunting. At the same time, they have to be wary of her tendency to guard very close.
Cunningham's perimeter defense is among the best in the league, which is probably what Nia Coffey felt when the Lynx forward wanted to create space.
But her attempt to do so resulted in some contact that left the Fever star shaken. After review, Sophie Cunningham was called for a foul, and cameras caught her trying to reason with officials. She stressed that she was the one taking the foul, but officials did not listen to her.
When clips of this incident reached social media, fans were left seething. They saw clearly how Nia Coffey's elbow struck Sophie Cunningham in her mouth with enough force to bump her backwards.
Despite that, getting the foul called on the Fever star left fans wondering how bad the WNBA's officiating could get before the NBA has to step in.
They felt that if the referees felt that it was Cunningham's foul after reviewing it, it is clear that either they are incapable of doing their job or are biased against the Fever. Check out examples of those reactions below.
There won't be a doubt that the Indiana Fever will be sending this clip to the league's officiating team to get a response. However, it is unlikely that there will be a review, and neither will Nia Coffey be reprimanded, as it is not as egregious a foul that would cause an outcry.
But even then, fans felt that the league needs to take a good, hard look at its officiating. After the recent spike in questionable calls, the narratives surrounding the WNBA are not doing it any favors.
This foul call aside, Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever could not do enough to stop the Minnesota Lynx from winning their tenth straight game. On the other hand, this loss ends the away team's five-game winning streak. But the situation is not about to get any better.
They will return home, but will face the next best team in the standings. The last time the Fever faced the Las Vegas Aces, they gave them an embarrassing beatdown.
The defending champions will be seeking revenge, but it is the Fever whose performance will prove how August could be for them. Lost that game, and they will be facing a downturn in form at the worst possible moment.
They will face playoff opponents five more times. With more away games than in front of their passionate fans, Sophie Cunningham and her teammates will have to dig deep. If losses pile up during this stretch, it could greatly alter their playoff seeding.
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