Friday evening was about the basketball. Preseason No. 6 seed Indiana Fever had the potential to upset the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces again, taking the semifinals to a 2-1 advantage. Instead, the Fever lost the game 84-72 before a rocking Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the actual story evolved into Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark making the sidelines their very own scene.
Sophie’s Brace, Bikini, and Bold
Sophie Cunningham has been that girl in the playoffs. Even hurt, sitting on the bench with the torn MCL, the camera still narrows in. Days after she was trending regarding Bikini pics of her, brace and all, she was trending again this past Friday, although this time following the post-game performance on the Fever bench.
Cunningham and Clark stood up, wavin’ their arms passionately at refs, essentially beggin’ replay help. Coaches urged them to sit back down and relax, but the girls weren’t listening. Sophie, in particular, waved off her coach as if saying “don’t tell me what to do.” It was all so very playoff basketball, yet more like TV reality.
@mommasheetz #LetsGo #IndianaFever #CaitlynClark #SophiaCunningham #okayokay #WNBAPlayoffs25 #Game3Semifinals
♬ original sound – Rhonda
Twitter Did Not Pull Back
And there is something WNBA Twitter excels at, and that is dragging. And Sophie was the focal point.
- “I wouldn’t slap her even for a mill. I would slap her for nothing.”
- “They’re the most unlikeable people in the league.”
- “I KNOW the Black women on this team & staff loathe these repulsive insufferable bitches! I know they do.”
- “This blatant disrespect & disregard is truly nasty. They reek of entitlement. Yuck.”
- “Sorry, but Sophie Cunningham is the epitome of white trash bro.”
Clark also brought in loose passes, so I’m being honest, Sophie was the storm. On Twitter, they pretty much anointed her the postseason’s villain.
Fevers Fairytale Goes to Hell
It’s almost sad, as the Fever’s post-season stint has been so enjoyable. However, after shooting nothing during nine missed minutes, losing your temper, and your most-viral moment being sideline drama, the mood dampens. The Aces looked focused. The Fever looked lost.
And still, I won’t lie. That’s why people won’t shut up about this team. Sophie Cunningham doesn’t apologize. Caitlin Clark doesn’t apologize. They’re feisty, spoiled, dramatic, and totally unforgettable. You love ’em, or you despise ’em, but you watch.
