Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Sophie Cunningham Gives One-Word Reaction After Being Slapped With Controversial Foul Following Paige Bueckers’ Shove

It wasn't a great evening for Sophie Cunningham and Indiana Fever.

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham came up with a one-word reaction, after she was given a controversial foul following an incident involving Paige Bueckers. On Tuesday, August 12, the Indiana Fever hosted the Dallas Wings in a thrilling encounter that ended in the visitors recording a narrow 81-80 win. During the game, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham committed a foul on the Wing’s rookie Paige Bueckers that was rather a controversial call.

sophie says “goddammit” after she sees the replay of that “foul”. should’ve been an offensive foul but the fever didn’t challenge. pic.twitter.com/YoyMzfXz63
— correlation (@nosyone4) August 13, 2025

Though the Fever didn’t challenge the foul, Cunningham had a one-word reaction to it. As the 28-year-old saw the replay of the foul, she screamed “Gooddammit!” before play resumed. Notably, towards the end of the second quarter of the game, the Wings had the ball and Cunningham was guarding Bueckers. The Wings’ rookie gave Cunningham a slight shove in order to set herself free from her rival’s defense.

sophie says “goddammit” after she sees the replay of that “foul”. should’ve been an offensive foul but the fever didn’t challenge. pic.twitter.com/YoyMzfXz63
— correlation (@nosyone4) August 13, 2025

The shove, as expected, sent Cunningham backwards, and she gestured that she was shoved. Surprisingly, the foul was called on the Fever guard, instead of giving an offensive foul to Bueckers. Needless to say, the incident left Cunningham visibly frustrated and she made it visible by reacting to it loudly.

Sophie Cunningham Given Flagrant Foul After Incident Involving Paige Bueckers

The shove wasn’t the only incident that made it to the headlines from Tuesday-night’s game. Earlier in the first quarter, Cunningham went to contest Bueckers’ three-point shot but ended up being too close to her. She ended up stepping into the Wing’s zone, and as a result, the 23-year-old landed on Cunningham’s foot. The referees didn’t wait, and quickly called for a foul. However, things turned controversial when a flagrant foul was called on Cunningham.

Sophie Cunningham commits a flagrant foul tonight on Paige Bueckers (reckless close-out) pic.twitter.com/2TvyR8vt1s
— Franklin the Pump Dot Fun Guy (@PumpDotFunGuy) August 12, 2025

As a result, the star Wings’ rookie got three free-throw attempts and the Wings got the ball back. What makes the call controversial is that a flagrant is called when the act is either intentional or a player hits another on the head. However, Cunningnam wasn’t ejected from the game, and she finished the contest with 14 points, two rebounds, and three assists.

On the other hand, Bueckers chipped in 16 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in the Wings’ victory that pushed their tally to 9-24 in the season.

Paige Bueckers

Sophie Cunningham

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.