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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 23: Sophie Cunningham #9 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Liberty during the second half of the first round WNBA playoffs at Grand Canyon University Arena on September 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Liberty 83-82. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 23: Sophie Cunningham #9 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Liberty during the second half of the first round WNBA playoffs at Grand Canyon University Arena on September 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Liberty 83-82. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Sophie Cunningham stirred the pot again. After creating a huge social media uproar with her pregame outfit, she is once making headlines. Not entirely for a fortunate news though. The Mercury star was having a good game, notching up 16 points and leading her team against Lynx. However, two techs quickly got her ejected from the game.
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Cunningham received her first technical foul for yelling at one of the referees in the fourth quarter. The second, for trash-talking Napheesa Collier and Bridget Carleton, following her layup and a foul by the former. Both the technicals were within just six seconds.
Sophie Cunningham has been ejected after receiving 2 technical fouls
This is the 2nd one that led to the ejection#WNBA pic.twitter.com/6NkLLNcj0W
— WNBA Universe (@wnbauniverse) August 29, 2024
Nonetheless, she led the team in scoring alongside Diana Taurasi with 16. But this wasn’t enough for the Mercury to secure a victory. Taurasi’s team struggled to score for over five minutes, allowing their opponents to build a 20-5 lead.
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While Kahleah Copper contributed 13 points, Brittney Griner had 10 points shooting 3 out of 12. Even though the Mercury managed to close the gap to 46-37, Collier and the Lynx continued to maintain the lead throughout for 71-52, entering the final quarter.
Mercury added 7 more points in Cunningham’s absence, but it wouldn’t be enough. Kayla McBride scored 19 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx on the other end and ultimately clinch an 89-76 victory.
Sophie Cunningham spoke about her ejection
Loud chants of “Refs, you suck” were heard at the arena after Cunningham’s ejection. The 28-year-old guard agreed that while this was her first ejection, she isn’t bothered by it and is instead focused on improving. In response to a question about the matchup, the 28-year-old said, “There’s just so much we can’t control as players, and maybe I can control my emotions a little bit more, but honestly, I didn’t want to. I think sometimes a team needs that.”
She further said, “I think it’s a good question for the Players Association to maybe see the rest of the situation and how we can be better moving forward as a group. We get fined for a lot of stuff, but I think they need to be held accountable, too.”
She had previously expressed something similar through Billie Eilish’s ‘Birds of a Feather,’ lipsyncing “You are full of s***.” This came after Cunningham was given a foul in the final second of the game against Atlanta. She is currently averaging 7.7 points with 4.1 rebounds, and foul average 2.3.
Positioned sixth, Mercury heads against LV Aces on Sunday night next.
Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
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Shivatmika Manvi