“Be Dogs Again”: Sophie Cunningham’s Call-Out

The Fever’s loss to the Mystics wasn’t just another stumble — it was a warning flare. Indiana built a 13-point lead, only to watch Washington storm back with a 22–7 run. Fouls piled up, spacing vanished, and without Caitlin Clark on the floor, everything felt heavy. Boston fought inside for 20 and 9, Mitchell added 14 and 9, and Cunningham chipped in across the box score. But momentum bled away, and the Fever walked off stunned.

Then Sophie Cunningham changed the night. Standing at the postgame podium, she cut through clichés with a single line:

“We’ve had injuries, but that can’t be our excuse anymore. We’ve got to get back to being dogs — because right now, teams don’t fear us.”

The room froze. Fans replayed the clip, and #BeDogsAgain trended by morning. Talk shows dissected whether her words were a challenge to teammates or a jab at Coach White, who defended her rotations but offered little fire.

For the Fever, Cunningham’s words now hang heavier than any box score: the season’s survival depends on rediscovering fearlessness.