Sophie Cunningham doubles down after defending targeted Caitlin Clark attacks

There was a bit of a rumble at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tuesday night. Well, to be clear, there were multiple dramatic moments and heated exchanges, and three players were ejected from the Fever-Sun game during its final minute: the Sun's Jacy Sheldon and Lindsay Allen, and the Fever's Sophie Cunningham. And Cunningham, for one, is completely unapologetic about her role in the chaos.

It was clear tension was building throughout the game, and equally clear that the night's referees had very little control of the situation. Things really began to spiral out of control about halfway through the third quarter, when the Fever were up 55-45. Caitlin Clark had control of the ball when Sheldon intentionally poked her in the eye, and a shoving match ensued — Sheldon shoved Clark, Clark shoved back, and then Sheldon's teammate Marina Mabrey pushed Clark to the floor.

Sheldon was hit with a flagrant 1 foul, Clark with a technical foul for her response, Mabrey received her own tech, and the Sun's Tina Charles, who had run at Clark during the exchange, received an offsetting tech.

Somehow, the teams organized themselves and continued playing basketball, but as Sheldon was attempting a breakaway layup in the game's final minute, Cunningham grabbed her — completely wrapping her arms around Sheldon and stopping her dead in her tracks — and then pulled her toward the floor. Just about every player that was nearby entered into a physical confrontation that ultimately resulted in the ejections.

If anyone thought Cunningham might reflect on her behavior and apologize, they're obviously not familiar with her game. Cunningham is known for her willingness to engage in confrontation on the floor — this is hardly the first time and it won't be her last — and after the game she shared an official Fever photo of her shrugging, a pretty clear message to Sheldon, the Sun, and the WNBA. When it comes to being the Fever's enforcer, it seems like Cunningham has no problem reporting for duty.

Both coaches commented on the exchange

Both Stephanie White and Rachid Meziane spoke about the moment in the postgame press conference. White noted, "I view it as a flagrant foul" and carried on with the rest of the presser, in which she absolutely trashed the game's reffing.

"There wasn't an explanation for the technical [Clark] got. I think it was pretty obvious stuff was brewing," White said.

She also called out the officials for not ejecting Mabrey for a similar act. "When the officials don't get control of the ball game, when they allow that stuff to happen - and it has been happening all season long - this is what happens!" White exclaimed. "Everybody's getting better, except the officials. We need to remedy that. I mean, we've heard every coach talk about it. I don't know what the answer is," White added.

Meziane also touched on the end of the game.

"I did not understand [Cunningham's foul]. When you are winning a game by 17 points and you doing this, to me, stupid foul, this is just disrespectful and I don't know how Jacy and Lindsay [got] ejected from the game when they did nothing," he told reporters. "For me, it's just disrespectful to do that foul when you are winning the game by 17 points. Completely stupid."

If the foul being disrespectful is his strongest critique, it's not likely Cunningham will be too bothered... with or without whatever fine the WNBA undoubtedly has in store for her.