Sophie Cunningham is in her seventh WNBA season, but she's entered a new spotlight in her first season with the Indiana Fever.
Cunningham, who has carved out an important role with Indiana, has been a key contributor for a team that is a mainstay on national television. As part of a growing platform that includes a brand-new podcast, many of Cunningham's thoughts have been amplified, for better and for worse. As such, she's been docked a few thousand dollars for her transparency.
Less than 30 games into the 2025 season, Cunningham revealed that she had been fined for a third time, with the latest punishment coming down from the league in response to public criticism of officiating. She took the discipline in stride and expressed remorse, but did not indicate that she'd be deliberate about avoiding another fine.
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Here's an up-to-date look at the fines Cunningham has incurred this season and how much they've cost her.
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Sophie Cunningham fine history
Cunningham has been fined at least $2,500 this season, but the exact figure is unknown. She has been fined for a Flagrant 2 foul that escalated into an altercation, as well as multiple instances of publicly criticizing WNBA officials.
June 18
- Fine: Undisclosed
Cunningham was fined for her involvement in a late-game fracas between the Fever and fronto on June 17. With under a minute remaining, Cunningham committed a Flagrant 2 foul on Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon, resulting in an altercation between the teams.
FEVER VS. SUN GO AT IT AGAIN —
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 18, 2025
Sophie Cunningham vs. Jacy Sheldon. 🍿
pic.twitter.com/4FsO2IO9JP
Per WNBA rules, Cunningham was fined $400 for the Flagrant 2, but the league confirmed to Front Office Sports that she was penalized further. The exact figure was not disclosed.
MORE: Inside the heated Fever-Sun rivalry
July 23
- Fine: $500
Cunningham took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that she had been docked $500 for a TikTok post ridiculing league officials.
In the video, Cunningham sang along with Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild," which includes lyrics that say, "Stupid. Or is it… slow? Maybe it's… useless?" Cunningham included text on the video that said "@some refs," while she lip-synced.
I got fined $500 for this TikTok 🤣🤣 idk why this is funny to me… like ok 👍🏼 you got it bud! Cause there’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now pic.twitter.com/ELAlguHhMQ
— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 23, 2025
MORE: The latest rumors, speculation around the Fever at the WNBA trade deadline
Aug. 5
- Fine: $1,500
On the second episode of her podcast, Cunningham disclosed that she was fined $1,500 for comments made in the show's premiere.
sophie got fined $1500 for ref comments on ep 1 lmfaoooo
— correlation (@nosyone4) August 5, 2025
“they email our gm and she pulls me aside…and she just smiled and goes hey they’re gonna fine you again. i even told them i credited them that their job was hard! i did say that and i said that i would not be good at it.” pic.twitter.com/fEVq4kIJws
In Episode 1, Cunningham said, "They're just so inconsistent," referring to WNBA officials.
"Like that's one thing. If you're on the other team, and you're going to be fouling the f— out of me, cool. But let me do it to you. I think players across the league, and new fans across the country are like, 'What is going on with the refs?' And I'm like, 'I don't know.' And you know fining me $500 is not going to do s—."
Aug. 19
- Fine: Undisclosed
After being ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season with a torn MCL, Cunningham shared that she had been issued another fine. In Episode 4 of "Show Me Something," Cunningham shared that she had been fined for comments made in the previous episode.
Sophie got fined again lmfao
— correlation (@nosyone4) August 20, 2025
“I’m officially 3 for 3 on being fined by the WNBA. They didn’t like my comments on Paige Bueckers.” pic.twitter.com/GnZcHu3uWP
"I'm officially 3-for-3 on being fined by the WNBA," Cunningham said. "They didn't like my comments on Paige Bueckers. I didn't even say anything bad! … But like, why?"
Cunningham did not disclose the amount of her fine, but her previous fine for public criticism of officiating was $1,500, so the latest fine could be in a similar range.
Here are the comments that Cunningham made one day after the Fever lost to Bueckers and the Wings:
"I love Paige to death, do not get me wrong — I think she's a hell of a player and would love to play with her one day. But, those refs were giving her every freaking whistle last night, like, you literally couldn't touch her. Couldn't touch her! And that s— is so annoying to me. And, if you're going to do that, give it to our guards.
"We know she's a good rookie and like, she's gonna get some whistles, but like, to get the treatment she got last night was crazy. Crazy."
Sophie Cunningham contract
Cunningham signed a one-year contract extension worth $100,000 with the Mercury in September. In February, she was included in a four-team trade that sent her to the Fever.
All figures via Spotrac.
| Year | Age | Salary |
| 2025 | 28 | $100,000 |
| 2026 | 29 | Unrestricted free agent |
Like the majority of veteran players in the WNBA, Cunningham will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025 season.