Sophie Cunningham rips WNBA refs for giving Paige Bueckers calls they don’t call for Caitlin: “If you’re gonna do that, then give it to our guards” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham sounded off on WNBA game officials for giving Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers the special whistle during the Fever vs. Wings game on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
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Cunningham got the assignment to shadow the No.1 pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft. While she did a pretty good job limiting her to 6-19 shooting during the game, there were a handful of questionable calls that went Bueckers’ way, which could have easily altered the outcome of the game in Indiana’s favor.
“I love Paige to death, do not get me wrong. I think she’s a hell of a player and I would love to play with her one day, but those refs were giving her every frickin’ whistle last night. Like you literally couldn’t touch her. And that s—t is so annoying to me. Like, if you’re gonna do that, then give it to our guards. I just hate the inconsistency,” said Cunningham.
The rookie getting the special whistle
At least a couple of plays involving Cunningham defending Bueckers stood out in the game. The first one was when Sophie was called for a flagrant foul 1 for interfering with Paige’s landing zone after contesting a 3-pointer. The rook made all three free throws awarded.
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Then, with about a minute left in the second quarter, Cunningham was pushed by Bueckers, who was trying to break free from her leech-like defense. The referee blew the whistle, but the foul was called on Sophie, which caused the Fever guard to scream “goddamnit” and react later on “X.”
“We know she’s a good rookie and that she’s going to get some whistles. But like to get the treatment she got last night was crazy,” Sophie added. “She’s gonna be one of those players that, like, she’s already going to be a GOAT. Like she’s gonna be a Hall-of-Famer, everyone knows that she’s frickin a hell of a player. But like, getting some of those whistles already, I couldn’t…”
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The Fever coach also complained about the double standard against them
Like Sophie, Fever head coach Stephanie White also wasn’t able to keep her feelings on how the game was officiated to herself. During the post-game interview, White lashed out at the referees for allowing the Dallas defense to get very physical with her star players while calling fouls on them at the slightest of touches.
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“I think Kelsey Mitchell, number one, is held or chucked on every freaking possession, and never gets a call off the ball. I think Aliyah Boston is the worst officiated post player in the league. She never gets a call,” White lamented. “And there’s a double standard there, certainly. But, again, if it’s gonna be physical, and you’re gonna allow us to be physical, then allow both teams to be physical. If you’re gonna call the holds, and you’re gonna call the chucks, then call it both ways. I think we’ve been pretty consistent in what we’re asking for, and I don’t feel like it was consistent — especially for those two.”
In fairness to the refs, the Wings were whistled for more fouls, 19-17 and the Fever were awarded four more free throws during the game. However, what Cunningham and White say is that the officials should call it both ways. And if they call it for Paige, they should also do so for Caitlin, who has a notoriously bad whistle.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
