The latest WNBA incident involving Bria Hartley sent Sophie Cunningham to the locker room with an undisclosed knee injury. The former appeared to smile as the latter writhed in pain.
There is a history here…
Some WNBA fans believe this was a targeted act of violence. I am not going to say this was an intentional play to take Cunningham out of the game but it does not help Hartley’s reputation as a dirty player.
Did Bria Hartley fall on purpose?
Cunningham went down during the second quarter against the Connecticut Sun. She immediately grabbed her right leg and could not walk off of the court under her own power.
sophie cunningham went down grabbing her right leg and seems to be in a lot of pain.
— cc akgae (@clrkszn) August 17, 2025
just tank for the rest of the season man pic.twitter.com/RX3fosAUTo
Hartley fell awkwardly while trying to pass out from under the basket.
Bria Hartley always at the scene of the crime — extending her fall right into Sophie Cunningham's leg.
— The Boston Post (@ABostonPost) August 17, 2025
This Sun team is out of control.pic.twitter.com/zQOBK06hMf
She had a big smile on her face as Cunningham screamed in pain.
I find it hard to believe that Hartley undercut Cunningham to take her out of the game. However, there is a history here that does not help the optics.
Rickea Jackson had words for her back in July.
Rickea Jackson and Bria Hartley 💨👀
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) July 13, 2025
Jackson is seen calling Hartley “weak as f***”#WNBA pic.twitter.com/DzAAe1S4NB
Hartley got into it with Natasha Cloud and Sabrina Ionescu at the beginning of August.
Bria Hartley extra curricular activity is back as she hears it from Natasha Cloud after she bumps Sabrina Ionescu 👀#WNBA pic.twitter.com/fLBgU5Qnsy
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) August 3, 2025
She basically attacked Rebecca Allen just a few days later.
Bria Hartley pushes Rebecca Allen to the floor. 👀 pic.twitter.com/swKltdZB9A
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) August 13, 2025
And now Cunningham, who just so happens to be one of the biggest villains in the WNBA…
Sophie Cunningham’s family is furious.
The WNBA fined Sophie Cunningham $500 at the end of July for criticizing the officials on TikTok. This was the post that did it:
Her sister, Lindsey, thinks the league should reconsider its priorities.
“@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic,” she wrote on X.
Paula Cunningham, Sophie’s mom, focused more on Bria Hartley.
“Hartley is a disgruntled player having trouble everywhere she goes; she’s plain mean and plays out of control,” the matriarch posted.
The Cunningham family does not think Hartley was trying to injure Sophie on purpose. They question why she is allowed to play so recklessly without any repercussions.
It is currently unclear as to when Sophie Cunningham will be able to return to the court, if at all.