Sports Illustrated Sparks Backlash Over Its Sophie Cunningham Headline
Controversial headline turns into a big story.
Sports Illustrated is getting serious hate for using the word “karma” in a headline about Sophie Cunningham after a brutal hit left her bleeding.
During the Indiana Fever’s win over the Chicago Sky, Chicago’s DiJonai Carrington smacked Cunningham across the face on a layup attempt. Referees upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2 and tossed Carrington from the game, while Cunningham was left with a bloody mouth.
Shortly after, Sports Illustrated published an article with the headline, “Sophie Cunningham Got a Bitter Taste of Karma After Drawing Flagrant Foul in Fever-Sky.” The title sparked instant outrage, especially given the heavy criticism Cunningham has faced lately for her controversial comments on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Fans Slam Sports Illustrated Over ‘Karma’ Headline
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham fights with Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington (Photo By Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
Many fans saw the headline as a direct jab at Cunningham. Some argued that Sports Illustrated crossed a line by connecting her off-court views to a physical foul during a basketball game.
“Sports Illustrated thinks that if you don’t believe men should play in women’s sports, then you deserve to be physically assaulted,” one fan wrote on social media.
Another fan questioned the publication’s relevance, writing, “Which is another reason nobody buys their magazines if they even print them.”
A third critic wrote, “Sports Illustrated hasn’t been a sports publication for over a decade. It’s birdcage floor cover.”
Sports Illustrated later changed it. The updated version now reads, “Sophie Cunningham’s Enforcer Role Gets Reversed Onto Her With Hard Foul in Fever-Sky.”
The original story pointed to a hard foul Cunningham committed during the 2025 WNBA season. Cunningham wrapped her arms around Jacy Sheldon during a layup attempt. Officials gave Cunningham a Flagrant 2 and ejected her from that game.
Cunningham acknowledged the connection after Saturday’s game.
“Last year I did the same thing, and I got kicked out, as I deserved to get kicked out. There’s no reason to even play that card,” Cunningham told reporters.
Carrington later posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads and tagged the Fever. Cunningham said she saw the post but did not connect the incident to race.
“We saw it,” Cunningham said. “I think the league is taking care of that. I mean, this has nothing to do with race.”
Fever coach Stephanie White defended Carrington’s competitive approach while agreeing with the ejection.
“I don’t think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did,” White said.
Although she didn’t comment on the other issue.
