Marka - Sophie Cunningham’s Subtle ‘Joke’ to Jacy Sheldon Ignites New Spark in the WNBA

During a recent fan signing event, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham playfully wrote “Property of Sophie Cunningham” on a rookie card of Jacy Sheldon, who was previously with the Connecticut Sun, showcasing a spontaneous and lighthearted 'provocation'. Next to them, Lexi Hull expressed her surprise, saying, “No way!”

This 'joke' stemmed from an already heated rivalry between the two players. In their matchup on June 17, Cunningham committed a Flagrant-2 foul (serious foul) against Sheldon right before the game ended, leading to both players being ejected and escalating tensions. Early in the game, Sheldon had received a Flagrant-1 for poking the eye of Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, which was followed by a push from Marina Mabrey. Cunningham sought 'revenge' by pulling Sheldon down hard during a fast break situation with just one minute left in the game.

Connecticut Sun’s coach, Rashid Majeed, strongly criticized Cunningham after the game, stating, “It’s really foolish to act that way when you’re winning by 17 points. It’s a complete lack of respect.”

Ultimately, the Fever secured an 88-71 victory, earning a ticket to the Commissioner's Cup Finals, but the real topic of discussion was Cunningham's 'bulldozer' image. Following the incident, Cunningham’s social media followers surged into the hundreds of thousands, and her jersey quickly sold out.

Cunningham later posted a playful video lip-syncing to a Selena Gomez song, saying, “Just kidding, it was such a fitting track! Happy Game Day.” At that moment, Caitlin Clark gently advised her, “Focus on basketball.”

In response to Cunningham’s actions, there were negative petitions calling for her removal from the league. Critics claimed her behavior was dangerous and lowered the league’s standards, while supporters argued it was merely her defending her teammates. Cunningham was fined $400 but faced no suspension, solidifying her image as a 'strong teammate' both online and offline.