Sophie Cunningham fined again as WNBA upgrades punishment after Clark altercation
The league hands out additional penalties following heated Indiana Fever vs Connecticut Sun clash
Aphysical battle between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun ended with more than just a final scoreline. Tensions reached a boiling point late in the game when Caitlin Clark was shoved to the floor, and now the WNBA has handed down further discipline – including a second fine for Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham.
The Fever‘s 88-71 victory on Tuesday was overshadowed by a late-game scuffle involving several players. While Caitlin Clark once again delivered a strong performance with 20 points, six assists, and a rebound, her fall to the court after a shove from Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey became the headline moment.
In the final minutes of the game, Cunningham committed a hard foul on Jacy Sheldon, which escalated quickly. Players from both teams became entangled in a series of confrontations. Clark and Sheldon exchanged heated words, and Sheldon eventually struck Clark on the head during the commotion.
League responds with upgraded penalties and fines
Following a review, the WNBA upgraded Mabrey‘s infraction to a technical foul for her shove on Clark. Meanwhile, Cunningham was assessed a Flagrant-2 foul, which triggered an automatic fine. But the league went further, handing Cunningham a second fine for her role in escalating the chaos. As per WNBA policy, the specific amount of the fines was not made public.
Cunningham, who had five points and seven rebounds during the game, appeared to stand up for her teammate amid the growing tension. However, the WNBA’s decision suggests her actions crossed the line, especially in the eyes of league officials seeking to maintain order.
Clark and veteran teammate Tina Charles also received technical fouls, adding to a chaotic end to the contest.
Fever head coach Stephanie White was outspoken about the officiating, suggesting the referees failed to control the game from the outset. “I started talking to the officials in the first quarter, and we knew this was going to happen,” White said. “You could tell it was going to happen. So, they’ve got to get control of it. They’ve got to be better.”
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Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa echoed those frustrations. “Obviously it was a physical game tonight. I think when things aren’t managed well to begin with, it tends to get out of hand, and that’s what happened,” she said. “It goes with managing both teams on the court, managing calls and fouls. Making sure that things aren’t just added fuel to the fire throughout the game.”
The aftermath of this high-intensity matchup has renewed discussions around officiating standards and player protection in the WNBA. As the league continues to draw national attention, moments like these serve as reminders that with increased visibility comes greater scrutiny on how games are managed.
