The stakes in the WNBA are high, and controversies and injuries are not unexpected. Sadly, the competition gets tougher and more alarming at times. Some players are commonly at the center of such controversies. One of those players is Bria Hartley, who has been in the news recently for her altercations with Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham has broken her silence on her viral clash with Bria Hartley that cut her season short.
Sophie Cunningham on Bria Hartley Clash That Ended Her Season
The Cunningham-Hartley Collision
During the recent clash between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever on August 17, Hartley and Cunningham bumped into each other. After the collision, Sophie Cunningham went down, grabbing her knee and yelling in pain. A few moments later, the game paused, and she was helped off the floor.
Sadly, the injury was severe and brought an end to Cunningham’s season. According to multiple reports, Cunningham tore her MCL, ending an impressive season in which she averaged 15.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
While Cunningham was writhing in pain from the collision, pictures show Hartley smiling while looking at Cunningham immediately after the contact. Hartley has a long history of rough play, and her smile after this latest incident left fans outraged at her playing style and attitude.
Backlash From Family and Fans
Cunningham family members voiced their concerns after the incident. Lindsey Cunningham tweeted after the game, writing: “@WNBA, maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you. @sophaller 
”
Fans have also labeled Hartley a dirty player after the incident. Overall, family and fans are calling on the WNBA to take strict action against such incidents and ensure that players are safe and protected while on the court. But there is a twist in the reaction, as Sophie Cunningham has broken her silence after the incident.
“In The Wrong Spot at the Wrong Time”
Responding to the incident that ended her season, Sophie Cunningham said:
“I know Bria, and I’m really good friends with her. I’ve been waiting to get on a pod so we can talk about this, because I don’t want to just tweet it out. I don’t think there was any ill intent—it was a basketball play. I was just in the wrong spot at the wrong time. There’s no way she would try to hurt me. I have nothing but love for Bria.”
She added that she asked her mother to take down her tweet against Bria. Cunningham’s response shows how much of a professional she is. Rather than buying into the controversy, she is defending Bria Hartley and urging her fans to stop blaming Hartley, since her intention was not to injure her.
However, fans are not buying into her statement, with many commenting that this is an attempt by the WNBA to save face. Either way, the WNBA must act to ensure player safety on the court and stop intentional injuries from creeping into the game. For now, Cunningham is focusing on her recovery and hopes this injury will not damage her career.
© David Butler II-Imagn Images
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