"For talking about Cleveland and Detroit" - WNBA fans erupt as Sophie Cunningham gets "choked out" by Julie Vanloo

Sophie Cunningham made headlines earlier this week for her comments about Cleveland and Detroit getting WNBA expansion teams. Some fans erupted online after she got into a physical play with LA Sparks guard Julia Vanloo on Saturday.

Late in the first quarter, Cunningham and Vanloo dove for a loose ball on the floor. Rickea Jackson joined the scramble and attempted to grab the ball, with Vanloo appearing to wrap her arm around the Indiana Fever forward’s neck. Officials called a jump ball. No scuffle followed, and both players laughed it off after getting back on their feet.

The notorious satirical page NBA Centel on X shared a clip of the play and described it as Cunningham getting "choked out" by Vanloo. The post was meant to stir comments — humorous or serious — depending on the viewer’s perspective.

Here is the video of the play.

Expand Tweet

WNBA fans commented on the post, with some expressing their feelings about Cunningham’s remarks regarding Cleveland and Detroit. Sophie Cunningham told reporters she would rather play for a team in Miami than in the two cities.

Here are some of the top comments.

In addition to her comments about Cleveland and Detroit, Cunningham has made headlines over the past few weeks. She famously got into a scuffle with the Connecticut Sun after a hard foul on Jacy Sheldon, retaliating after a few physical plays on Caitlin Clark earlier in the game.

What did Sophie Cunningham say about Cleveland and Detroit?

The WNBA announced on Monday that three expansion teams will join later in the decade. Cleveland will make its debut in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Reporters interviewed multiple players after the news, including Sophie Cunningham, who made some snide comments about the first two cities.

"I'm not so sure what the thought process is there, but at the end of the day, you want to make sure that you’re not expanding our league too fast," Cunningham said, according to the Associated Press. "I think that that’s also another thing. It’s kind of a hard decision-making situation. But, man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or (Cleveland)."

Both cities responded to Cunningham, with Detroit calling itself a sports town, while Cleveland uploaded a video of Caitlin Clark praising the city.

About the author

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry.

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

Know More

Edited by Juan Paolo David