"I'll take care of my own fines" - Sophie Cunningham keeps it real about fundraising attempt for a good cause

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has clarified the intent behind her attempt to raise funds on social media, assuring fans that the money will be going to a good cause. On Thursday, Cunningham shared a link to a fundraiser on GoFundMe, asking fans to share support or donate.

The GoFundMe page had a goal to raise $10 million. Fans swarmed to Cunningham’s comment section to criticize her for creating a GoFundMe, prompting her to explain that the whole thing was a joke.

“This is a joke. Relax you clowns… I set a goal for 10 million. There’s just no way you can think I’m actually serious🤣,” she wrote.

Even if she set up the page as a joke, donations were made, leading to even more speculation. Fans suggested that Sophie Cunningham will use the money to pay the fines she has racked up in the WNBA. She cleared up her intentions, assuring fans that the donations would go to charity.

“To be clear, whatever we raise here will be going directly to Ronald McDonald House Charities. I’ll take care of my own fines. Y'all are the best though🫶🏼,” Cunningham wrote.

The Fever guard has been one of the most outspoken players in the WNBA this season, accumulating multiple fines for her comments regarding officiating and criticism of the league’s leadership.

Sophie Cunningham calls out WNBA leadership in scathing statement

Sophie Cunningham joined the flood of WNBA players speaking up against the league's leadership after Napheesa Collier’s statement against commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday.

While most players showed their support on social media, Cunningham took it a step further, taking her own stand during the Indiana Fever’s exit interviews. Speaking to reporters, she said that she was “tired” of the league, alleging that the league’s executives don’t know “s*** about basketball.”

“I’m just tired of our league; they need to step up and be better. Our leadership from top to bottom needs to be held accountable. I think everyone’s frustrated,” Cunningham said. “I think there is room for improvement when the whole league is asking for it. The game isn’t fun to watch because everyone is trying to kill each other.”

Cunningham played 30 games for the Fever in 2025, averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. She picked up a knee injury against the Connecticut Sun on Aug. 16 and missed the remainder of the season.

About the author

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

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Edited by Sameer Khan