Cunningham responds to benching with strong showing as Fever rout Lynx
The short version
- Cunningham scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three 3s in a 96-77 win over the Lynx.
- She had been benched for the second and third quarters of Sunday's loss to Washington, playing a season-low 7:09.
- Coach Stephanie White praised Cunningham's defense, communication and response.
- The 11 points were her most since Aug. 18, breaking a seven-game scoring slide.
- The Fever finish the regular season Thursday at Minnesota; the playoffs begin Sunday.
Sophie Cunningham scored 11 points against Minnesota days after playing a season-low seven minutes, and coach Stephanie White praised her response.
Sophie Cunningham answered a difficult stretch with one of her better games of the past month, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the Indiana Fever's 96-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. She hit three 3-pointers, added two assists and two rebounds, and posted a plus-17 in just over 29 minutes of action.
The performance came two days after Cunningham was held out for the entire second and third quarters of a loss to the Washington Mystics, finishing that game scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting in a season-low 7:09. Fever coach Stephanie White said afterward that the team needed to do a better job getting Cunningham the ball in spots where she could score, while also asking more from her defensively and on the glass.
White said Indiana made a deliberate effort Tuesday to swing the ball and find Cunningham when open, and that she delivered. The coach also highlighted Cunningham's activity and communication on defense, saying she was proud of the bounce-back effort.
Cunningham said she chose to respond to the benching with work rather than frustration. "I had to look at myself in the mirror," she said, adding that she focused on bringing energy and communication, being a professional and locking in.
The 11 points were Cunningham's most since she scored 13 at Toronto on Aug. 18. She had been averaging 3.2 points on 30.4% shooting over her previous six games. Indiana closes the regular season Thursday at Minnesota, with Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs set for Sunday against an opponent and at a time still to be determined.