‘Grow up’: Sophie Cunningham calls out Aces’ A’ja Wilson for confronting Fever fan

After alluding to Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson’s confrontation with a spectator during Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs on social media, Sophie Cunningham came forward to make her point clear after the Indiana Fever lost the series, saying Wilson should “grow up.”

The confrontation stemmed from a spectator interaction during Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Cunningham was called for a defensive foul on Wilson, causing a stoppage in play before a spectator motioned forward and pointed at Wilson, prompting her to cross the baseline and point back before an exchange of words.

Wilson said the spectator was “taking steps toward me, pointing at me.” The spectator was escorted from his seat briefly before returning. The Fever said in a statement that security investigated the spectator’s conduct, determining he didn’t violate the “Fan Code of Conduct.”

On Wednesday morning, Cunningham posted a video on TikTok titled, “according to the rulebook …..” where she said: “Not trying to be dramatic at all. I was here having my morning coffee, and what a damn comeback year for the point. Who would have ever thought?”

Appearing on her No Hesitation podcast after the Fever’s season ended with a Game 3 loss to the Aces on Thursday, Cunningham shared her thoughts that she said she wanted to post on X but waited for the show to address the matter.

“Here’s my thing, us women in sport… we yell from the rooftops that we want equality, that we want to be treated like the men, that we want all this stuff and we deserve all these things — and we do. We do deserve it, right? But if you’re asking for all these fans to come and you have new fans who are real sports fans and they come and do something that a sports fan would probably do if you’re on the opposing team and then we’re going to go for them for just pointing, saying that you fouled, like grow up,” Cunningham said Saturday. “What are we doing? Like we ask all these things and then once people come out and support us, we get mad and it’s inappropriate and then us athletes need to be treated better and these fans need to be more supportive and not say anything negative.”

Cunningham also likened Wilson to LeBron James when explaining why the WNBA did not suspend Wilson.

“She’s like the LeBron James of our league, and so, of course they’re not going to suspend her,” Cunningham said. “I definitely think there’s a double standard. … We wanted her to play. I think that makes for good basketball.”

Cunningham, a magnet for controversy as of late, argued that the fan experience comes with the territory of the WNBA growing to the mainstream audience.

And while Cunningham shared her grievances, claiming Wilson gets special treatment, she did pay the Aces star some respect in the same breath as Jackie Young when breaking down Game 3 film later on her podcast.

“Jackie is a hell of a player … and A’ja is too,” Cunningham said. “She gets a lot credit, but Jackie deserves her flowers as well.”