One could see sparks flying from a mile away in the Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever game. More so after DeWanna Bonner’s controversial welcome in Indiana last week, where a chorus of boos and ‘quitter’ had filled the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Very distasteful” and “unnecessary” Kahleah Copper called it. But the league’s third all-time leading scorer? Yeah, she had not batted an eye. But back on her home turf, things took off.
It was a game of physicality, trash-talking, and gritty defense in PHX Center on Thursday night. Bonner herself, largely composed in their last outing, was chirping up her former teammates all night long. Sophie Cunningham, Lexie Hull, the Fever bench– not many were spared. But the former Phoenix guard, fiery as she is, wasn’t backing down. So yes, she answered back with those 5 three-pointers, but also wasn’t slowing down on the physical game.
After her “I also think it’s okay to be professional about it and send a text to your teammates,” remark about Bonner’s exit, the two clashed in the third quarter. With the Mercury up 68-46, Cunningham was driving the ball to the basket when Bonner swiped it away. The 6′ 1″ guard immediately tried to snatch it back, grabbing Bonner’s arm in the frenzy. It was just the start.
Cunningham was hit with a foul, and then could be seen jawing with Bonner and Mercury guard Satou Sabally as officials took a closer look for a possible clear-path violation. Damiris Dantas had to step in to pull Cunningham away. The tension on the court was palpable, and former ESPN host, Rachel DeMita, gave the win to Bonner in this case.
“Like it was an intentional foul on her part. They called it a clear path. I think that that’s a fair assessment of a foul because DB would have been going the other way. Sophie was not trying to hurt her. She was just, it seemed like to me, intentionally trying to foul her to stop the play,” she remarked on Courtside Club podcast.
Cunningham and Bonner have a long history with each other. When Cunningham entered the scene in 2019, Bonner was a veteran in Phoenix. It turned out to be her last year in the city before moving to Connecticut. Cunningham went on to play 6 seasons at Mercury, building on the base and guidance built by Bonner.
Even in her podcast, she did have some good words for her ‘vet in Phoenix’. “I like DB,” Cunningham said, “DB was one of my vets when I was in Phoenix, and then we gathered here in Indiana. It was kind of a surprise she was signed to Indiana anyway. We’ll take her in a heartbeat. She’s a Hall-of-Famer, she’s a hell of a basketball player, can score from anywhere on the court.”
However, things have changed since, and both are fierce competitors loyal to their current teams. Whatever their relationship was is history now. Even Bonner admitted, “emotions are kinda high” after the game, something DeMita sensed and agreed to on her podcast: “But that was another moment… emotions were high the entire night.”
It’s clear there won’t be much love between the vet and the Fever fandom anytime soon, but the teams have got bigger things to worry about.
Will Sophie Cunningham be tried at point guard amid Fever’s injury crisis?
Cunningham was a lone warrior in a loss that probably shook this squad to the core. Not because of the one-sided result, but because they lost both of their fit point guards to season-ending injuries. Sydney Colson landed awkwardly on her knee early in the game to tear her ACL. Aari McDonald stumbled out in the fourth quarter and has a broken bone, according to the team’s latest update. That leaves them without a point guard as Caitlin Clark is still recovering from her groin injury.
Cunningham finished with a team-high 18 points along with 2 rebounds and 2 assists against her former WNBA team and was one of just two Indiana players to put up double digits in the loss. She has stepped up for the Fever consistently and is one of the only positives to take out of this game. Considering her form and Kelsey Mitchell’s tremendous form as the premier scorer, she could be tried at that position.
Coach Stephanie experimented with this in the preseason when Clark was out against the Mystics. Cunningham finished with a team high 21 points and 2 assists while partly running the point. The Fever, however, might dip into the free agent market to bring in a proper point guard so as to not overload others.
Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) points to her teammates during the first half against the Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The names of Odyssey Sims and Chennedy Carter are being discussed among the fans, while others like Zia Cooke and Deja Kelly also remain a part of that conversation.
What about Cunningham? While she might not bring in the passing ability, the sharpshooter could run forward-initiated sets. The creativity could be further shared around the team with the likes of Aliyah Boston, Mitchell, and others. As the playoffs loom, it’s the battle-tested experience of Sophie Cunningham and Kelsey Mitchell that will need to anchor this squad.
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