Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham doesn’t consider a unclean play led to her season-ending knee damage, and she or he desires everybody to cease accusing Connecticut Solar guard Bria Hartley of deliberately hurting her.
That features Cunningham’s personal mom.
Cunningham addressed the matter on an episode of her “Present Me One thing” podcast that dropped Tuesday. It’s the identical day the Fever introduced that Cunningham will miss the rest of the season after getting injured throughout Sunday’s recreation in Connecticut.
Hartley was driving towards the basket through the second quarter when she misplaced steadiness and collided with Cunningham on her approach to the ground. Cunningham instantly grabbed her proper leg in ache and was finally helped off the courtroom.
The seven-year WNBA veteran instructed co-host West Wilson that she tore the MCL in her proper knee and surgical procedure is scheduled on Friday. She additionally stated that she has no arduous emotions towards Hartley and doesn’t blame her for the season-ending damage.
“I do know Bria, and I’m truly actually good mates with Bria,” Cunningham stated. “… There was no unwell intent. I believe it was basketball play. I used to be simply within the incorrect spot on the incorrect time. She fell — like there’s no manner that she would go in there and probably attempt to harm me. So yeah, I’ve nothing however love for Bria.”
Amongst those that have questioned Hartley’s intentions is Cunningham’s mom, Paula, who reportedly wrote on a now-deleted X (previously Twitter) submit that Hartley is a “disgruntled participant” who’s “plain imply and performs uncontrolled.”
Cunningham stated she set her mom straight .
“I used to be like, ‘No, Mother, I get it, however I promise you, Bria and I are tremendous cool,’” Cunningham stated. “‘She would by no means attempt to harm me, as a result of there are some women that I believe would possibly, however she wouldn’t try this.’ So I’ve nothing however love. And I hope individuals cease giving Bria some warmth, as a result of I don’t assume she meant to try this in any respect.”
Cunningham additionally addressed a photograph, taken by David Butler II for Imagn Photos, from instantly after the damage occurred that some assume reveals Hartley smiling whereas Cunningham is holding her leg in agony.
“I believe that smile, it wasn’t like a — it was like an ‘ooh’, you recognize, like, a kind of,” Cunningham stated, making a grimace. “So I’m completely tremendous” with Hartley.
In June, Cunningham sparked a scuffle between Fever and Solar gamers when she took down then-Connecticut participant Jacy Sheldon, who was making a break towards the basket late within the recreation with Indiana main by 17. Sheldon has since been traded to the Washington Mystics. Some have seen Cunningham’s transfer as payback after Sheldon poked Fever celebrity Caitlin Clark within the eye throughout a play earlier within the recreation.
The Fever have struggled with accidents this season. Clark hasn’t performed in additional than a month due to a groin damage, and guards Sydney Colson (ACL) and Aari McDonald (damaged foot) noticed their seasons come to a untimely finish due to accidents throughout an Aug. 7 recreation at Phoenix.
