Sophie Cunningham was met with a loud chorus of boos from Toronto Tempo fans during the Indiana Fever’s 101-95 victory on Tuesday. The guard was jeered and whistled whenever she touched the ball, with the reaction linked to the ongoing backlash over her public comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports. Cunningham finished with 13 points off the bench, while Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 29 and Caitlin Clark added 24.
Despite the hostile reception at Scotiabank Arena, Cunningham did not appear bothered by the treatment. Instead, she praised the Toronto crowd for bringing plenty of energy to the game, choosing to embrace the atmosphere rather than criticise the fans.
Sophie Cunningham Breaks Silence After Being Booed by Toronto Tempo Fans
Sophie Cunningham brushed off the hostile reception she received from Toronto Tempo supporters during the Indiana Fever’s 101-95 win on Tuesday. The 30-year-old guard was booed when she entered the game, amid continued attention surrounding her comments about transgender athletes and women’s sports. Despite the reaction, Cunningham stayed composed and finished with 13 points off the bench, while Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 29 and Caitlin Clark added 24.
Asked about the boos after the game, Cunningham initially appeared surprised. When reporters jokingly suggested her dislike of ketchup chips might have been behind the reaction, she played along, saying, “You know what? I like where your mind’s at. “I heard I was supposed to try different brands.”
Cunningham then shifted her focus to the atmosphere inside Scotiabank Arena, praising the Toronto fans for their passion during the Tempo’s inaugural season. “I will tell you, I want to shout out the Tempo crowd in the city,” she said. “I think we’ve had so much fun. It’s my first time being in Canada. It’s a lot of our first times being in Canada.” She added, “The crowd was absolutely amazing, and I think that’s what sports is all about. You’re going to get boos, you’re going to get cheers.” Cunningham continued, “But just the fact they’re so passionate, they’re loud, and they’re putting on for the city, I think it’s amazing.”
Sophie Cunningham Reacts to Her Performance After Emerging as WNBA’s No. 2 3-Point Shooter
Sophie Cunningham continued her impressive shooting season, ranking as the WNBA’s second-best three-point shooter in 2026 with a 45.8% success rate from beyond the arc. She played a key role in the Indiana Fever’s 101-95 win over the Toronto Tempo, particularly when the team needed someone to step up. “I’m just here,” she said. “Whatever the team needs of me, I’m gonna do. That’s what it’s all about. Owning that. That’s what it means to be the ultimate team pro.”
Cunningham’s contribution became even more important after Kelsey Mitchell suffered an injury in the third quarter and missed the final 10 minutes, while Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston combined to shoot just 2-for-10. Toronto cut Indiana’s 17-point advantage to four with 47 seconds remaining, but Cunningham responded with six points in the fourth quarter to help the Fever hold on for a crucial victory and move up to third in the standings.
