basketball

Sophie Cunningham’s off-court moment with Brittany Mahomes says more about her Fever return than the stat line

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The collision course of the two sports is an interesting dynamic.

Sophie Cunningham’s off-court moment with Brittany Mahomes says more about her Fever return than the stat line originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The easy takeaway from Indiana Fever ’s preseason opener is the box score.

Sophie Cunningham scored 13 points in just 14 minutes, knocked down three triples, and looked comfortable again after a season-ending knee injury in 2025. That alone would have been enough to mark a successful return. But the more revealing moment came later, away from the court.

Cunningham’s brief, two-word reaction to Brittany Mahomes, “damn ma 🤠🔥”, might seem like a throwaway social media comment. In reality, it caught something bigger about where she is right now as a player and personality. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brittany Mahomes (@brittanylynne) A player who looks like herself again For much of last season, Cunningham’s absence left a noticeable gap in Indiana’s rotation.

She brings spacing, edge, and a level of confidence that doesn’t always show up in traditional metrics. On Saturday, those traits were back immediately. She wasn’t easing into action.