Indiana Fever star Sophia Cunningham has defended the WNBA star who played a role in her season-ending injury.
Cunningham suffered a knee injury on Sunday night in Connecticut before the Fever later confirmed that she would be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
The injury took place in the second quarter of Indiana’s overtime win, when Cunningham went down hard after getting run into by Connecticut’s Bria Hartley.
She would be helped off the court with a towel over her head as she made her way into the locker room.
Some fans – including Cunningham’s sister and mom – weren’t happy with Hartley, however now the Fever star has come out and defender her.
Speaking on her podcast, Show Me Something, she said: ‘I’m actually really good friends with Bria.
Sophia Cunningham has fired back at a fan who tried taunting her over her injury
The injury took place in the second quarter of Indiana’s overtime win on Sunday, when Cunningham dropped to the court while clutching her right knee
‘I don’t think that there was ill intent. I think it was a basketball play, I was just in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
‘I have nothing but love for Bria and I even told my mom – because she had tweeted something.
‘She [Hartley] would never try to hurt me. There are some girls that I think might but she wouldn’t do that.’
‘So, I have nothing but love [for her] and I hope people stop giving Bria some heat because I don’t think she meant to do that at all’.
Cunningham also delivered a fresh update over injury while on her own podcast, Show Me Something.
In the latest episode, she said: ‘I did tear my MCL. If you’re going to hurt your knee, that is the best possible case.
‘I was in the paint and someone ran into my knee and it just snapped. It went. And knee injuries are weird to me. But I felt a pop right away’.
Shortly after she went off injured, Cunningham’s mom, Paula, joined in the criticism and accused Hartley of endangering her daughter, after the incident occurred.
Cunningham was quick to defend Connecticut guard Bria Hartley for her role in the injury
Paula posted in a now-deleted post on X: ‘Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control’.
As soon as Hartley made contact with Cunningham’s lower right leg, the Fever standout immediately grabbed it and fell to the court.
When cameras focused back on Cunningham during a stoppage in play, she was visibly yelling in pain. The Fever ruled Cunningham out for the rest of the game with a right knee injury.
Cunningham had already been assessed with a technical foul in Sunday’s game during a tie-up with Leila Lacan.
The possible serious injury comes at a time when Cunningham’s popularity has never been higher, after joining a roster and becoming close with Clark.
Cunningham celebrated her 29th birthday on Saturday, with the Fever in the thick of the WNBA playoff race.
The Fever have signed guard Shey Peddy to a seven-day hardship contract to replace Cunningham on the roster.
Indiana will host the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night.
