How Lengthy Will Sophie Cunningham Be Out? Newest on the Fever Star’s Damage Standing

The Indiana Fever’s injury-riddled season took one other devastating blow once they misplaced Sophie Cunningham to a season-ending knee harm. The veteran guard-forward tore her proper MCL throughout a hard-fought victory over the Connecticut Solar on Aug. 17, a crushing setback that ended her 2025 marketing campaign and stripped away one among Indiana’s most tenacious opponents.

Cunningham had rapidly emerged as each a vocal chief and bodily presence for a Fever group desperately looking for its identification whereas pushing towards the playoffs. Now, with their enforcer sidelined indefinitely, questions swirl round her return timeline and what it means for Indiana’s postseason hopes.

Newest Updates on Sophie Cunningham’s MCL Damage

Cunningham’s promising 12 months with the Fever got here to an abrupt and painful halt on Aug. 17, when she injured her proper knee throughout the group’s 99-93 victory over the Connecticut Solar. The incident occurred within the second quarter when Solar guard Bria Hartley appeared to fall into Cunningham’s leg, inflicting instant injury.

The impression was prompt and apparent. Cunningham instantly grabbed her knee and needed to be helped off the court docket, unable to place weight on the injured leg.

sophie cunningham went down grabbing her proper leg and appears to be in quite a lot of ache.

simply tank for the remainder of the season man pic.twitter.com/RX3fosAUTo

— cc akgae (@clrkszn) August 17, 2025

The next day introduced the crushing information Fever followers feared most. An MRI revealed a torn MCL, and the group dominated her out for the rest of the 2025 WNBA season. The analysis meant surgical procedure could be vital.

Simply days later, on Aug. 22, Cunningham underwent the process to restore the broken ligament. Ever the competitor, she shared the second with followers via an Instagram Story, posting a photograph of herself in a hospital robe with the caption, “See ya on the opposite aspect :).”

That message, although lighthearted on the floor, underscored the tough actuality that Cunningham’s breakout season with Fever was formally over.

Prayers for Sophie for a wholesome restoration… pic.twitter.com/Dk7y0uMsrE

— Sophie Cunningham FAN CLUB (@SophieC_FanClub) August 22, 2025

The loss hits the Fever notably onerous, given Cunningham’s impression past the field rating. She had been one of many group’s most dependable contributors, averaging 8.6 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals throughout 30 video games. Extra importantly, she introduced the type of grit, physicality, and aggressive fireplace that championship groups require.

With Caitlin Clark sidelined by a groin harm, Cunningham had stepped seamlessly right into a beginning position, proving she may ship when her group wanted her most. Now that safety blanket can be gone.

How Lengthy Will Sophie Cunningham Have to Recuperate From Her MCL Damage?

The truth that Cunningham required surgical procedure suggests she suffered a minimum of a grade 2 or grade 3 tear, each of which demand in depth rehabilitation intervals. Nonetheless, there’s encouraging information for Fever followers waiting for 2026.

The projected restoration window is roughly six months, which guidelines her out of the present marketing campaign that ends in October however positions her for a whole return earlier than the 2026 season begins. If her rehabilitation progresses easily, Cunningham may very well be again on the court docket by February and able to contribute from the opening tip of subsequent 12 months’s marketing campaign.

The timing, whereas removed from best, may have been worse. MCL accidents, although severe, sometimes don’t derail careers when correctly handled and rehabilitated. At 29, Cunningham has the time and bodily resilience to get better totally.

In the meantime, the Fever have scrambled to handle the instant roster void. Indiana signed veteran guard Shey Peddy on a seven-day hardship contract whereas releasing Kyra Lambert. Nonetheless, Peddy represents a short-term resolution reasonably than a real substitute for Cunningham’s distinctive mixture of vitality and two-way effectiveness.

The loss stings much more contemplating Cunningham’s journey to Indiana. After six productive years with the Phoenix Mercury, she joined the Fever this offseason and instantly established herself because the group’s enforcer. She turned the participant prepared to deal with the soiled work, arise for teammates, and supply the bodily presence that each aggressive roster wants.

Dropping that irreplaceable component at this vital stage of the season, with the Fever standing at 19-18 and barely above the playoff lower line, represents a major problem for Indiana’s postseason aspirations. The group should now discover methods to switch not simply her manufacturing, however her management and toughness throughout an important stretch of their season.