The Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces are battling for the WNBA playoff title. The semifinals have been tense, with the Aces leading 2-1 before Game 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis. Game 3 ended in a loss for the Fever, but what caught attention was Sophie Cunningham’s interaction with assistant coach Briann January.
Many WNBA fans, followers, and analysts believed the player disrespected the coach. Cunningham received a wave of criticism, as many argued her conduct on the bench was not appropriate.
A lack of respect toward the coach?
According to Athlonsports, a controversial video went viral on social media. The clip shows the assistant coach trying to restrain Cunningham and Caitlin Clark. Both Fever players demanded a replay review after a hard foul by Aces forward NaLyssa Smith on Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell late in the fourth quarter.
The assistant coach tried to keep Cunningham and Clark off the bench during the protest. At the end of the video, Cunningham dismissed January, a former Fever player recently linked to head coaching vacancies in the WNBA.
Acting like this to ur COACH?!?!!!!?!! https://t.co/OyQwVuT2Xr
— 🦋🦋 (@theonenonlyann) September 28, 2025
Fans reacted quickly on TikTok and X. Some of the most notable comments were:
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“The assistant coach tells them to calm down and they act dismissive???”
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“Coaches have to take time and focus away from the team on the court just to tell them to behave.”
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“It’s simply the fact that her staff is trying to help her.”
The WNBA rules state that players can also receive technical fouls from the bench for unsportsmanlike conduct. In fact, Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull already faced that this season. If things continue this way, Clark and Cunningham could face the same penalty.
