On August 5, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke candidly about the DeWanna Bonner Fever exit controversy during an episode of the Show Me Something podcast. Bonner’s departure followed her trade request and subsequent waiving after missing several team games, a situation that has stirred discord within the team.

When asked by co-host West Wilson whether Bonner communicated with her former teammates about her exit, Cunningham shook her head, implying there was no explanation offered. Wilson noted,

No? Not even privately? Yeah, I mean, okay. That’s tough,

highlighting the lack of communication with the roster.

Cunningham expressed mixed feelings, stating,

“I’m still rooting for her. Like, I want her to end her career and be happy. But I also think that, like, it’s okay to be professional about it, and like send a text to your teammates. Send a text saying and be like, ‘Hey, love you guys.’ Or you don’t even have to say ‘Love you guys’, just be like, ‘Hey, sorry this didn’t work out, good luck.’ You know what I mean? There’s a way to handle that, I think.”

The Rising Tensions Between Cunningham and Bonner During Recent Games

The rivalry between the two players intensified during the Indiana Fever’s matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on August 7. The game featured several heated moments, including a brief physical altercation involving Cunningham and Bonner. These clashes added fuel to an already strained relationship highlighted by Bonner’s controversial exit.

On August 13, Cunningham revisited these interactions on her podcast. She acknowledged,

There was some, maybe a little bit of beef because of our last podcast, with how I mentioned that some people could have handled situations [better],

confirming that her previous comments about Bonner were a catalyst for the tension. When prompted if she believed her remarks triggered this response, she responded,

Hell yeah. 1,000%.

Further revealing the source of ongoing hostility, Cunningham shared,

I think that like, our teams don’t really like each other anyway, just because of like, I don’t know, just 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?

Regarding Bonner’s reaction to her comments, Cunningham explained,

She didn’t listen to the whole clip. She just saw the thing about, like, ‘She could have handled it more professional.’ Which, honestly, everything that has talked to me besides their team, [is like], ‘Yeah, she could have.’ But that team is just drama to me,

before recounting her own post-game confidence:

I went home, and I started hitting some threes. And you know I was talking all s***. Oh god, it felt so good. I know we lost by 30, but I still got mine off,

adding a laugh to underscore her defiance.

Ongoing Rivalry Signals Future Matchups Will Be Intense

The discord between Cunningham and Bonner reflects broader tensions between the Fever and Mercury, which appear unlikely to subside soon. The rivalry’s intensity seems rooted not only in Bonner’s exit but also in longstanding team dynamics influenced by shared coaching backgrounds and player affiliations.

Following the turbulence after Bonner’s departure and the fiery exchanges during recent games, the Fever and Mercury are set to face off again on September 2. With emotions still raw and public comments stoking the rivalry, fans can anticipate another highly charged contest when these teams meet once more.