Sophie Cunningham Fires Back at WNBA After Getting Fined for Mocking Refs on TikTok
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is in the spotlight once again — not for her on-court performance, but for a viral TikTok that landed her in hot water with the WNBA. The league fined Cunningham $500 after she posted a video mocking referees using a trending audio clip from pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.” In the clip, Cunningham lipsyncs to the line, “Stupid, or is it slow?” while captioning it “@ some refs,” clearly referencing recent officiating she felt was subpar.
Rather than back down, Cunningham doubled down. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she shared a screenshot of the fine and wrote:
“I got fined $500 for this TikTok 🤣🤣 idk why this is funny to me… like ok 👍🏼 you got it bud!”
She added, “Cause there’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now,” pointing out what she sees as misplaced priorities by the league.
Cunningham’s reaction has sparked discussion across sports media, with many fans and analysts questioning whether the fine was warranted or overly sensitive. Some argue that the WNBA should focus more on officiating consistency, player protection, and compensation — especially as collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks loom.
This isn’t Cunningham’s first brush with controversy. Earlier in the season, she was involved in a heated on-court scuffle after defending rookie phenom Caitlin Clark during a game against the Connecticut Sun. That incident led to a flagrant-2 foul and a separate fine. Cunningham has since emerged as a vocal advocate for both Clark and broader player respect.
Her latest social media jab only intensifies the conversation about how much leeway athletes should have when criticizing the league. While the WNBA aims to maintain professionalism, Cunningham seems determined to hold it accountable — even if it costs her.
Whether fans see her as a disruptor or a hero, one thing’s clear: Sophie Cunningham isn’t afraid to speak up — or go viral doing it.
