Even though she was not on-court, she made her soul present by supporting her teammates

Yes, Indiana Fever point guard Sophie Cunningham may be out for the rest of the season due to a bad injury, but that did not stop her from stealing the show after her team’s playoff-opening victory against Las Vegas Aces.

Cunningham, 29, suffered a torn right MCL during the regular season and had to undergo surgery, resulting in sitting out during the rest of the season. However, the veteran point guard was on the stands on Sunday, reliving every moment as the Fever shocked the defending champions with an 89-73 road victory in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff series.

Fever dominate with an outstanding Kelsey Mitchell

With Cunningham out, Kelsey Mitchell obtained 34 points on 12-of-23 shooting to lead Indiana. Odyssey Sims contributed with 17, and Natasha Howard with 12, becoming the Fever’ best game of the season.

The Aces, on the other hand, could not get into a proper rhythm. 2025 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson was limited to a season-low 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting, and no Las Vegas player topped the 20-point threshold.

The outcome shocked many, but it made Cunningham go wild.

Sophie Cunningham’s emotional reaction

When the last buzzer went off, Cunningham stood up, applauding with her teammates. Heading towards the locker room, she could not help it anymore.

“Woo, that’s big time,” Cunningham exclaimed. “That’s big time right there.”

She took the celebration to social media platforms. Sharing the Fever’s win post on Instagram Stories, she put a cheeky caption: “dubs in the chat.”

Even though she could not dress up with the Fever gear, her voice and spirit were undeniable at the Fever’s postgame party.

Her importance from the sidelines

Cunningham is no longer just a fan favorite in Indiana for her toughness, but also for the intensity with which she motivates the locker room. She has taken on a hybrid playoff role, teammates say: part cheerleader, part motivator, and even sometimes a coach.

“She brings energy even when she’s not on the court,” a Fever staffer said. “The players draw off her.”

A preview to the series suggests that The Fever now look ahead to Tuesday’s Game 2 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. A victory would place Indiana in commanding position of the best-of-three series before it returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Fans will not be surprised to find Cunningham in attendance every step of the way, cheering loudly and waving her teammates on, proof that leadership does not necessarily translate into points scored on the sheet.