“We know she’s a good rookie, and she’s gonna get some whistles. But like, to get the treatment she got last night was crazy. Crazy. She’s gonna be one of those players, she’s already gonna be a GOAT, she’s gonna be a Hall of Famer. Everyone knows it. She’s a freakin’ helluva player. But getting some of those whistles already? Oh my. I couldn’t.”
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is once again voicing her frustrations with WNBA officiating. In this week’s episode of her podcast, Show Me Something, Cunningham criticized the refs for what she perceives as preferential treatment toward the rookie star Paige Bueckers during a narrow 81–80 loss to the Dallas Wings.
Cunningham expressed her belief that Bueckers received excessive protection from officials, leading to multiple fouls against the Fever's players, including Cunningham and Lexie Hull, who both finished the game with four fouls each.
Despite Bueckers' 6-for-19 shooting performance, her ability to draw fouls raised concerns among the Fever players, who felt the officiating impacted the game's outcome.
“Do not get me wrong. I think she’s a helluva player and would love to play with her one day. But those refs were giving her every freakin’ whistle last night. Like, you literally couldn’t touch her. That s–t is so annoying to me. And if you’re gonna do that, then give it to our guards. I just hate the inconsistency.” Cunningham's frustration resonated with fans who voiced similar concerns on social media regarding the officiating, with one X user calling it “UConn privilege” on the court.
Sophie Cunningham RIPS WNBA REFS over Paige Bueckers special whistle😬
— Jmac| Ball Up 🏀| WNBA & NBA | (@Gameis_gameLFG) August 13, 2025
“Those refs were given her every freaking whistle last night”
“To get the treatment she got last night was crazy” pic.twitter.com/QxTQ8q3a2G
League Consistency and Accountability
Cunningham's comments have ignited a broader conversation about officiating standards in the WNBA. Her critique points to a perceived inconsistency in how fouls are called, especially concerning high-profile players like Paige Bueckers and teammate Caitlin Clark.
If rookies draw calls others don’t get, fans and players are right to observe double standards. Fever head coach Stephanie White backed the sentiment, calling out a double standard in foul calls, holding her players accountable while feeling others get a pass.
READ MORE: WNBA reporter names best case scenario for Fever's starting lineup amidst injuries
Despite Cunningham’s recent fines for criticizing the league’s officiating, she remains undeterred and continues to use her podcast as a platform to speak out about issues in the league. Her unfiltered commentary has sparked discussions about the challenges of officiating and the balance between protecting star players and ensuring fair play.
As the league continues to grow, addressing these concerns becomes increasingly important.