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See the full story · 1 sourcesSophie Cunningham fires back at Portland crowd, corrects viral claim about her response originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Sophie Cunningham heard the boos from Portland Fire fans and did not let them go unanswered.
The Indiana Fever guard became the center of a viral moment during Saturday’s 112-98 victory when fans booed her as she attempted a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter. Cunningham appeared to say something in response, immediately creating questions about what she told the crowd.
Parody sports account BrickCenter claimed Cunningham called the Portland fans “losers.” Its post quickly gained traction on social media, generating more than 2.6 million views on X.
There was only one problem with that interpretation: Cunningham said it was not accurate.
“I didn’t call them losers but I did talk [expletive],” Cunningham wrote on her Instagram story while sharing the viral post.
Sophie Cunningham sets record straight after viral exchange
Cunningham did not reveal exactly what she said to the fans, but she made two things clear. She denied using the word attributed to her, and she was not pretending that she remained silent. The boos came amid continued criticism of Cunningham following her public comments about transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. Her remarks have attracted considerable attention away from the court and made her a target for some opposing crowds.
Sophie Cunningham getting HEAVILY BOOED in Portland... She knocks down a 3 and calls the crowd losers 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/dHD6UwVvYK
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) August 1, 2026 Cunningham has not been shy about responding to criticism throughout her career, and Saturday’s exchange was another example of that approach. However, her clarification also demonstrated how quickly an unverified interpretation can become accepted as fact online. The viral post offered one version of the interaction, but Cunningham directly disputed its central claim.
Whatever she said, the crowd’s reaction did not keep her from making an important contribution to Indiana’s victory.
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Cunningham helps Fever extend winning streak
Cunningham finished with 13 points off the bench, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. She also contributed three assists and two steals as Indiana reached 112 points in its fifth consecutive win. The 29-year-old has become a valuable part of the Fever’s rotation this season. She is averaging 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting a career-best 44.7 percent from 3-point range.
That outside shooting has given Indiana another reliable scoring option around its established stars. Cunningham’s physical style and willingness to embrace difficult defensive assignments have also helped her maintain an important role on a team moving up the standings. Saturday’s win improved the Fever to 19-10, placing them among the top four teams in the WNBA. Indiana trails only the Minnesota Lynx , Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries after strengthening its position with five straight victories.
Cunningham’s exchange with the crowd received much of the attention afterward, but her performance helped Indiana continue its surge. She may not have called Portland’s fans “losers,” as the viral account claimed. She did, however, acknowledge talking trash before helping the Fever leave with another win.
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