Following an unfortunate preseason injury to Sophie Cunningham’s right ankle, the Indiana Fever are in danger of playing their WNBA season opener against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky without one of their most important offseason additions.
If you believe head coach Stephanie White, that is.
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“She continues to be day-to-day,” the first-year coach said at Fever practice on Thursday. “It’s a long season, so we want to make sure we’re making the best long-term decisions when it comes to her health and wellness.”
Cunningham did not practice on Wednesday. White said all Cunningham did on Thursday was sit on the sideline and talk.
She could hardly finish the thought before Cunningham, who was dribbling and shooting right behind her, butted in with a conflicting injury report right on cue.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
“I’m ready to play!” the 28-year-old guard crooned. “I’m going crazy.”
She punctuated her plea by knocking down a corner three in front of the crowd of reporters interviewing White ahead of the showdown with the Sky on Saturday.
Cunningham’s presence would be a major boost against Chicago. Cunningham averaged 10.5 points per game across her last three seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, ranking inside the top 20 in three-pointers made per minute each year.
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At 6-foot-1, she can guard multiple positions, making her a versatile addition alongside Fever backcourt duo Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
Cunningham sustained her injury while attempting to come down with a rebound against the Atlanta Dream in the third quarter of the Fever’s final preseason game. Though she sat out the rest of the game, she bounced back quickly and returned to social media in good spirits.
Depending on who you believe, her return to the court may be just as fast.
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