The Indiana Fever may have walked away with a hard-fought win Thursday night, but let’s be honest — the victory wasn’t the only thing people were talking about after the final buzzer. What really had fans fired up wasn’t Caitlin Clark’s rare off night from beyond the arc — it was the officiating, and more specifically, a controversial call that left a sour taste in the mouths of Fever fans.
Making her much-anticipated debut after sitting out the first two games with an ankle sprain, Sophie Cunningham was hoping to make an immediate impact. And she did — just not in the way she expected. Midway through the fourth quarter, with Indiana clinging to a one-point lead, Cunningham stepped in to set a screen for Caitlin Clark. She was set, squared up, and didn’t move — it looked like a textbook play. But somehow, the refs blew the whistle and called an offensive foul on her.
That moment shifted the energy in the building. Fever head coach Stephanie White didn’t hesitate — she threw the challenge flag, clearly frustrated. And rightly so. The replay showed what most people saw in real time: a clean, legal screen. Still, the officials stuck with the call. The Fever lost a timeout, and fans across social media lost their patience.
One fan summed it up perfectly: “Steph White had to use a challenge after a foul on Sophie Cunningham, who was stationary to set a screen for CC. It was unsuccessful. I don’t get it. It was a textbook screen.”
Steph White had to use a challenge after a foul on Sophie Cunningham, who was stationary to set a screen for CC.
It was unsuccessful. I don’t get it. It was a textbook screen.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) May 23, 2025
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only controversy of the night. Caitlin Clark, who has built a reputation as one of the most lethal shooters in basketball, missed all five of her three-point attempts, snapping a mind-blowing streak of 140 straight games with at least one made three.
That streak stretched all the way back to her sophomore year at Iowa. She still managed 11 points and six assists, but foul trouble — both hers and Aliyah Boston’s — kept Indiana’s stars on the bench for much of the third quarter. Despite those challenges, the Fever dug deep.
Especially as Kelsey Mitchell drilled a clutch three to push Indiana ahead, 76–75. But, through all the highs and lows, Cunningham’s return was a bright spot — at least, until that call. She played 18 strong minutes, added nine points, and brought the kind of energy Indiana’s been missing. But that foul — and the refusal to overturn it — felt like a gut punch not just to Cunningham, but to anyone hoping for a fair fight.
And that’s why spectators didn’t hesitate but jumped into the comment section to deliver their unique takes. “Embarrassing officiating,” penned a User.
Well, this isn’t a one-off. WNBA officials have been under the microscope this season for a string of questionable calls.
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