'This team has potential like no other': Sophie Cunningham on her ankle injury and eagerness to make Fever debut
As she recovers from an ankle sprain, Cunningham reflects on the Fever's strong start and promising future, as well as her bond with Brittney Griner.
When the Indiana Fever played their lone home preseason game, it was a player off the bench who stole the show.
Sophie Cunningham, a 6-foot-1 guard who spent her first six WNBA seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, sees Indianapolis as both a fresh start and a return to the Midwest for the Missouri native. In that preseason outing, she posted 21 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes off the bench.
However, she has been limited in practice for more than a week. During sessions open to media, she’s shooting and participating in drills — moving without issue — despite tweaking her right ankle about 10 days ago during their preseason finale in Atlanta.
Now, the Fever are preparing to face the Dream twice in three days — the start of a demanding stretch with three games in five days.
Cunningham even made the half-court shot — for money — before their season-opening win over the Chicago Sky, a game she was not in uniform for. The team wants to be smart and not rush her back.
“She's progressing really well,” head coach Stephanie White said after Monday’s practice. “I think every day we see her movement, every day we see her more confident, a little more balanced. I know Sophie wants to play (Tuesday). I know she has some more tests to go through just to see if she's gonna be ready. But in my mind, I want to make sure that she's 100% ready. We've got a lot of games in a short period of time. We need her on the floor. I don't wanna rush it and have any setbacks.”
Cunningham is itching to get back. She’s been active within the team, high-fiving teammates, engaged in practice, and dancing afterward. But sitting out the opener was tough.