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Brittney Griner Explains Why Sophie Cunningham Is 'Annoying' to Play Against
There may be no better way to describe Sophie Cunningham's reputation around the WNBA than Brittney Griner's recent assessment. The Connecticut Sun star has experienced Cunningham from both sides—as a teammate in Phoenix and as an opponent—and her verdict was simple: Cunningham can be incredibly annoying when you have to play against her, but she is exactly the kind of player you want beside you.
That perspective has become increasingly relevant as the Indiana Fever prepare to face the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, July 22. The matchup is scheduled to take place in Indiana, with the Sun entering the game after a difficult season while the Fever have established themselves as one of the stronger teams in the Eastern Conference.
Griner knows Cunningham better than most players in the league. The two were teammates with the Phoenix Mercury from 2019 through 2024, giving Griner years of experience seeing Cunningham's competitive personality from inside the locker room. That history makes her description particularly revealing because it explains why Cunningham can frustrate opponents while simultaneously earning the loyalty of teammates.
Cunningham's game has always been built around energy, toughness and an unmistakable willingness to embrace physical competition. Those qualities can make her a difficult opponent, especially when emotions rise during a game. But for teammates, the same characteristics can become valuable because Cunningham is willing to defend her teammates and bring an aggressive edge to the floor.
The History Between Cunningham and the Connecticut Sun
The Fever-Sun rivalry became particularly heated during the 2025 season, when Cunningham was involved in one of the most memorable confrontations of her career. During a June 17 matchup, Cunningham committed a hard foul on Connecticut guard Jacy Sheldon during a breakaway layup, leading to a confrontation that eventually resulted in multiple ejections. ESPN reported that the game had already featured escalating physical play, including an earlier sequence involving Caitlin Clark, Sheldon and Marina Mabrey.
The incident quickly became one of the defining moments of Cunningham's growing profile in Indiana. While the play generated plenty of criticism, it also reinforced the image that has followed her throughout her WNBA career: she is a player who does not shy away from confrontation and is willing to put herself in the middle of the action when emotions boil over. The WNBA ultimately did not suspend players for the skirmishes, although Cunningham received an additional fine following her flagrant foul 2.
There is also an important difference between that 2025 confrontation and Wednesday's matchup. Sheldon and Mabrey are no longer members of the Connecticut roster, meaning the personnel involved in the previous flashpoint has changed significantly. Griner also was not part of the Sun during that particular game, making her relationship with Cunningham fundamentally different from the players who were directly involved in the incident.
The current matchup also comes with a completely different competitive context. Indiana already defeated Connecticut 85-75 on June 13, with Cunningham hitting three 3-pointers and scoring the final 11 points of the game. Caitlin Clark added 25 points and five assists, while the Fever used a strong second quarter to build the foundation for the victory.
For Griner and Cunningham, however, the most interesting storyline may be what happens before the basketball begins. Their history as former teammates suggests that Griner's "annoying" comment is far more playful than personal, reflecting the unique relationship that can develop between players who have shared a locker room before eventually becoming opponents.
Griner has also continued to be an important part of Connecticut's rebuilding effort in 2026. She recently produced a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds in the Sun's 90-89 road victory over the Minnesota Lynx, demonstrating that the veteran center remains capable of delivering major performances even as Connecticut navigates a challenging season.
That makes Wednesday's game another opportunity for two former Phoenix teammates to compete against each other while representing very different stages of their careers. Cunningham has become an important part of the Fever's identity alongside Clark, while Griner remains one of the most accomplished players of her generation and a central figure for Connecticut.
Ultimately, Griner's description of Cunningham may be the perfect summary of what makes the Fever guard so fascinating. To opponents, she can be the player you cannot stand dealing with; to teammates, she can be exactly the person you want fighting alongside you. When Cunningham and Griner meet on the court Wednesday night, that complicated relationship will add another layer to an already intriguing Fever-Sun matchup.
