In a post on X Wednesday, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said the WNBA fined her $500 for a TikTok she posted late last week criticizing the league’s officiating. 

In the video captioned “@ some refs,” Cunningham lip-syncs to a portion of Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Manchild” that goes “It’s all just so familiar, baby, what do you call it? / Stupid? / Or is it slow? / Maybe it’s useless?”

I got fined $500 for this TikTok 🤣🤣 idk why this is funny to me… like ok 👍🏼 you got it bud! Cause there’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now pic.twitter.com/ELAlguHhMQ

— Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 23, 2025

The sixth-year WNBA player, who is also a Fever representative for the WNBA players’ association, has 1.5 million followers on TikTok. The video has more than 1 million views to date and boasts a healthy—and largely supportive—comment section. “Start a go fund me for fines and say whatever you want. We got your back,” wrote one user. 

Cunningham is no stranger to controversial media moments. Earlier this month, she offended talking heads and fans alike with negative comments about the WNBA’s recently announced expansion plans: “I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” she said in a courtside interview on July 1.

Last week’s TikTok also wasn’t the first time Cunningham has been publicly critical of WNBA referees. After getting ejected from a June 17 game against the Connecticut Sun—during which fellow Fever guard Caitlin Clark was repeatedly fouled — she told reporters that refs need to do a better job of “protecting the star player of the WNBA.” (Cunningham was also fined for her ejection after scrapping with the Sun’s Jacy Sheldon.)

Her aggressive and outspoken nature have earned Cunningham the title of “enforcer,” which she has leaned into across her rapidly growing social media accounts in recent weeks.

The WNBA has long been quick to fine both players and teams that violate their media policies. However, this tendency—along with the fines’ low dollar amounts relative to that of men’s professional leagues—have turned the punishments into a meme of sorts. 

Cunningham isn’t the only high-profile player to call out WNBA referees as of late. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese said the league’s officiating “has to be fixed” in a post-game interview on July 6.

That said, Sophie Cunningham is proving fairly unique in her willingness to go toe-to-toe with refs, media members, other players and anyone else in a position of power in the WNBA on social media. This penchant for sh-tposting—paired with her experience as a part-time sideline analyst for the Phoenix Suns—make Cunningham well-positioned for a potential media career whenever she decides to hang up her basketball shoes. 

But until then, her growing profile will more than make up for any fines she racks up either on or off the court.