The Indiana Fever will be without guard Sophie Cunningham for the rest of the 2025 season after she sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear during their game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. Cunningham’s injury occurred in the second quarter, prompting the team’s trainers to assist her off the court immediately.
Details of Cunningham’s injury and expected recovery timeline
Following the injury, Cunningham underwent an MRI on Monday, which confirmed the MCL tear. While this will sideline her for the season’s remainder, the Fever reported that she is expected to fully recover in time for the start of the next season.
“Can confirm Sophie Cunningham suffered a MCL tear — a silver lining of that being that she should be fully recovered by the start of next season (@chloepeterson67 first)” — Alexa Philippou, Reporter
Impact on team roster as Fever adjust to Cunningham’s absence
With Cunningham out, the Fever are now without two key players, as Caitlin Clark remains sidelined since mid-July with a groin injury. Clark is anticipated to return before the season concludes, but her absence along with Cunningham’s has significantly affected the team’s rotation. Through 30 games and 13 starts this season, Cunningham averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds, contributing solidly to Indiana’s efforts.
To cover Cunningham’s spot, the Fever signed guard Shey Peddy on a seven-day hardship contract and released guard Kyra Lambert. Indiana currently holds a 19-16 record, placing sixth in the league. The team is focused on maintaining this position to secure a spot in the playoffs scheduled to begin next month.
Looking ahead as Fever prepare for postseason challenges
Despite the setbacks, the Indiana Fever are determined to push through a challenging final stretch without one of their reliable scorers. The team’s ability to adapt and fill the void created by Cunningham’s MCL tear injury will play a crucial role in their postseason hopes, especially as other squad members step up to meet the increased demands. The Fever’s resilience in the face of injuries will be tested as they aim to capitalize on their current standings in the competitive WNBA landscape.