If unfiltered truth-telling is an art, Sophie Cunningham might just be its reigning master. The Indiana Fever star is known for her blunt honesty and backs her talk with action. Due to this attitude, she has earned the title of enforcer in the locker room. However, her latest remarks landed her in crossfire with veteran DeWanna Bonner. During the Fever-Mercury game on August 7, Bonner and Cunningham exchanged more than just baskets. They were trading plenty of fiery moments throughout.
The boiling point came when the two locked arms in a brief but intense shoving match. The rivalry carried an extra edge, as Cunningham had recently left the Mercury to join the Fever, instantly winning over Indiana fans, while Bonner’s own move from the Fever to the Mercury took on a far more antagonistic tone. Cunningham herself admitted to the DeWanna Bonner ‘beef’ during the August 13 episode of the Show Me Something podcast.
Now, after two days of admission, the Indiana Fever star is back again with a cryptic take. “I’m trying to stop being mean, but it’s like y’all have to stop being stupid first,” Cunningham shared on her Instagram story. While who the target of this strong message is still up in the air, her fans have started to link it with the recent DeWanna Bonner drama.
Sophie Cunningham’s admission on August 5 was the first ignition of this debacle. She revealed Bonner left following several missed games and requested a trade, resulting in her being waived. But the way she left irked the Fever guard. She left without any explanation to her teammates. And the unfiltered truth-telling Cunningham had some views of her own about this.
What happened between Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner?
During that podcast, West Wilson asked Cunningham if Bonner had explained her sudden departure from the Fever roster. While the camera stayed on Wilson, he said, “No? Not even privately? Yeah, I mean, okay. That’s tough.” His reaction suggested Cunningham was shaking her head in denial.
Cunningham then added, “I’m still rooting for her… But I also think that like It’s okay to be professional about it, and like send a text to your teammates.” She explained that a short message could have shown respect, even without affection. These tensions once again flared up on the court when the Fever visited the Mercury for a game.
Aug 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) reacts alongside Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner (14) in the first half of a WNBA game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On her August 13 podcast, Sophie Cunningham addressed those moments. She admitted there was “maybe a little bit of beef” due to her previous comments. When Wilson asked if Bonner’s reaction was tied to her earlier remarks, Cunningham replied, “Hell yeah. 1,000%.” She revealed Bonner only saw the part about being “more professional” and missed the full context.
The Fever guard claimed most people outside Bonner’s team agreed with her. Cunningham added, “I think that our teams don’t really like each other anyway, just because of her leaving. Some of those players used to be under our coaching staff, so there’s just a lot there. But I could have been way meaner, right?”
While Mercury walked away with a 35-point win, the Fever guard was happy with her win. Now that the cryptic message is out in the open, it will be interesting to see what happens next. But before that, Sophie Cunningham and co will face the Washington Mystics at home on August 15.
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