Sophie Cunningham Got Into It With Former Indiana Fever Teammate on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Fever suffered a brutal 95-60 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday in what was one of the biggest blowout losses in the WNBA this season. The one-sided nature of the game, however, did not take away from the intensity of the matchup between two teams that were out to prove something.
At one point in the contest, Sophie Cunningham got into it with Mercury guard-forward and former teammate DeWanna Bonner, who forcefully stole the ball away from Cunningham immediately after it was inbounded. Cunningham then fouled Bonner, which led to a review from the game officials.
As the play was being looked at by the referees, Cunningham was seen exchanging words with both Bonner and Mercury star Satou Sabally. Cunningham had to be held back by Fever teammate Damiris Dantas as the feisty Indiana guard continued to chirp at her opponents.
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Cunningham was eventually assessed with a clear-path foul, which led to Phoenix getting two free-throws and the possession of the ball.
There’s no love lost between Cunningham and Bonner, whose stint as teammates in Indiana was short-lived. Both players joined the Fever as offseason recruits, but while Cunningham has since established herself as one of the team’s key players, Bonner decided that Indiana was not for her.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) had a heated exchange with former teammate DeWanna Bonner on Thursday.© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Bonner, a six-time All-Star, took a leave of absence from the team after just nine games played, which led to the Fever waiving her contract. She eventually signed with the Mercury as a free agent to reunite with the same team she played for in the first 11 years of her WNBA career.
No one knows exactly what Cunningham and Bonner said during their intense exchange, but the tension between the two fierce competitors was clear.
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Related: Mercury Fans Make Their Feelings Clear on Sophie Cunningham’s Return After Fever Trade
Related: Fever Star Is Third Player Injured in Game Against Mercury
Related: Concerning Update Emerges on Caitlin Clark’s Injury Recovery
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
