There have been no recent games between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun without controversy or a Fever player getting injured. In the last battle on August 17, the Indiana Fever lost another player to injury, Sophie Cunningham. The Fever guard became the fourth player to hit the IL. WNBA analyst Jason Whitlock had a strong reaction to this and didn’t hold back from targeting Stephanie White.
The Fever’s 2025 season has been very traumatic, with players missing games due to injury. The team hardly had a healthy roster throughout the season. Whitlock took Cunningham’s recent injury as an example of firing shots at White, as he had always targeted the 48-year-old coach.
Jason Whitlock Blames Stephanie White Following Sophie Cunningham’s Injury
After back-to-back losses, the Indiana Fever needed a win to stay competitive in the league. With the Connecticut Sun as their next opponent, they had a great chance to win. Many were anticipating a foul or two, and surely it didn’t take long.
In the second quarter of the game, Sun guard Bria Hartley collided with Cunningham under the basket after making a pass along the baseline. While the referee let the play run, the Fever forward stayed on the floor holding her knee. She left the game and was later ruled out for the game.
After the 28-year-old star’s injury, the Indiana Fever also lost depth in their forward, and analyst Jason Whitlock was furious about it. He shared his feelings on social media, blasting HC Stephanie White.
“Sophie Cunningham’s injury signals the official start of football season. Nightmare season. Fire Stephanie White,” Whitlock wrote on ‘X’.
Sophie Cunningham's injury signals the official start of football season. Nightmare season.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) August 17, 2025
Fire Stephanie White.
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While the injury to the Fever forward certainly raises questions about the physicality of the games, using the same to target White still remains questionable. Stephanie White has been vocal about many issues in the league, especially regarding her team.
In her interviews, she spoke about biased officiating toward the Indiana Fever and the league’s physicality. Despite losing Cunningham, the Fever recorded a 99-93 win at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Stephanie White Gets Emotional After Sophie Cunningham’s Injury
The forward had already missed five games in June due to ankle pain, and now a knee injury might keep her out for a few weeks. The Fever already has Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson out injured, and the addition of another player heaps pressure on Stephanie White.
Reflecting on Sophie Cunningham’s Injury, Stephanie White said. “Holy s**t. Especially the way she fell, how she was holding herself, and how much pain she was in. At the time, it’s like, ‘crap.’ Then you go down there, see her, and the focus shifts to calming her down and problem-solving.”
While Cunningham will undergo an MRI scan, the Fever recorded a stunning overtime win. Kelsey Mitchel scored a career high of 38 points, and Odyssey Sims scored 19 points. The 20-point win was also the franchise’s record for the highest comeback. With all the firing and questioning around the team’s capability to win the title, White was emotional after the win.
During the locker room meet, former player and coach spoke enthusiastically and congratulated all the stars, including the team’s double-double leader, Aliyah Boston, and defensive powerhouse Lexie Hull. The Fever now has a 19-16 record and moves up to the sixth position in the league standings. They will face the Minnesota Lynx next on August 22 at home.