Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Rips WNBA Over Liberty-Dream Playoffs Controversy
Fever star Sophie Cunningham blasted the WNBA over the late-game timeout controversy in the Liberty's playoff loss to the Dream.
Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham criticized the WNBA's officiating after her team's loss to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. One of the biggest controversies occurred in overtime of the New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream's Game 2. After the Dream's Angel Reese scored two free throws to take a 101-98 lead, Liberty star Breanna Stewart questioned referee Kevin Fahy about whether they had a reset timeout.
They were informed they did not, forcing the Liberty to quickly inbound the ball and attempt a buzzer-beater shot to tie the game. The Liberty went on to lose the game and get swept 3-0, resulting in Atlanta's trip to the WNBA Finals. Cunningham questioned the WNBA's handling of the situation, stating that the league's investigation acknowledged a misunderstanding and that the referees could have handled the situation better.
She called for a swift resolution and improvement in officiating, suggesting that higher referee salaries could increase investment and skill level. Cunningham also suggested that the league's commissioner should address the issue publicly. The WNBA announced that its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, is retiring in December, creating an opportunity for a new leader to potentially address these concerns.
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