Sophie Cunningham has once again taken aim at WNBA officiating, accusing referees of showing favoritism toward rookie sensation Paige Bueckers during the Indiana Fever’s recent clash with the Dallas Wings. Speaking on her podcast—where she’s previously been fined twice for criticizing officials—Cunningham stressed that while she respects Bueckers’ talent and future greatness, she was frustrated with what she saw as overly generous calls in the guard’s favor.
According to Cunningham, the officials made it nearly impossible to defend Bueckers without drawing a foul, creating an inconsistency she feels should also benefit her own team’s guards. She acknowledged that standout rookies often get favorable whistles but argued that the treatment Bueckers received was excessive. The Wings ultimately edged out the Fever 81-80, with Bueckers posting 16 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, while Cunningham contributed 14 points. The Fever, missing Caitlin Clark due to injury, were led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points. Cunningham’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over controversial officiating in both the WNBA and NBA—a problem some believe could only be resolved by removing human bias from the process through advanced technology.
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