Sun guard shares her side of the story and defends her competitive style amid controversy

Connecticut Sun guard Bria Hartley recently reflected on her collision with Indiana Fever‘s Sophie Cunningham, causing the Fever star to remain out for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn MCL.

The collision occurred on August 17, when Hartley and Cunningham collided, leading to Cunningham‘s season-ending knee injury.

The incident quickly sparked online criticism, with some fans accusing Hartley of intentional foul play.

However, Cunningham herself has refuted these claims, stating that the collision was a basketball play and that Hartley did not intend to injure her. Cunningham further expressed her appreciation for Hartley‘s outreach following the injury.

Hartley emphasized that the play was unintentional, describing it as “a basketball play” that happened “so fast.”

During the collision, Hartley admits she had “tunnel vision” and did not realize she had collided into Cunningham.

“I didn’t even realize that I hit Sophie in the moment…I was thinking it was Kelsey Mitchell and then, when I got back up, I saw she was down,” she said on a recent episode of the Good Follow podcast.

She expressed her regret over Cunningham‘s injury and noted the surge of online criticism she received in its aftermath. Hartley also acknowledged Cunningham’s supportive comments, which she felt helped alleviate some of the negative attention.

Addressing the broader narrative of being labeled a “dirty player,” Hartley remarked, “People see clips on social media and make their own judgments. But my teammates, my coaches, they know me. They know I’m about competing and helping us win.”

She dismissed the suggestion of embracing the “villain” role, instead focusing on her commitment to the team’s success.

Despite the setback, Cunningham herself has refuted these claims, stating that the collision was a basketball play and that Hartley did not intend to injure her. Cunningham further expressed her appreciation for Hartley‘s outreach following the injury.

Expressing no ill will toward Hartley, Cunningham said on an August 19 episode of her Show Me Something podcast:

“I know Bria and I’m actually really good friends with Bria… I think it was a basketball play. I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. She’d never try to hurt me. I’ve got nothing but love for Bria.”

The Sun’s physical identity

Hartley‘s style of play aligns with the Connecticut Sun‘s broader team identity, which has been characterized by physicality and high energy.

Following the departures of key players like Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner,Hartley has taken on a more prominent role, often engaging in defensive confrontations and drawing fouls.

While this approach has been praised by some, it has also led to criticism from others who perceive her actions as overly aggressive.

Despite the mixed reactions, Hartley remains steadfast in her approach, stating, “Bring toughness, bring energy, and make sure when people play us, they know it’s going to be a battle.”