Sophie Cunningham Calls Out DeWanna Bonner Over Fever Exit: “Be Professional About It. Send a Text to Your Teammates”

Sophie Cunningham isn’t one to hold back—and she’s certainly not staying silent about DeWanna Bonner’s controversial exit from the Indiana Fever.

In a recent interview, the Phoenix Mercury forward delivered a blunt message that’s now setting the WNBA world ablaze. Speaking candidly about Bonner’s sudden departure from the Fever, Cunningham didn’t mince words: “Be professional about it. Send a text to your teammates.”

The comment came amid growing speculation and criticism surrounding Bonner’s move—one that reportedly caught her former Fever teammates off guard and left locker room tensions lingering in its wake. While Bonner has yet to make a public statement detailing the circumstances of her exit, her silence has only fueled more questions. Now, with Cunningham stepping in, the narrative has taken a sharp turn.

Bonner, a 6-time WNBA All-Star and longtime veteran, made headlines earlier this season when news broke that she had finalized her transition out of Indiana. What shocked many was how quietly—and quickly—it all happened. No farewell post. No public goodbye. Just a sudden disappearance from Fever operations, followed by a new chapter elsewhere.

That silence didn’t sit well with Cunningham.

“Look, I get it. Moves happen. Players switch teams. But there’s a right way to do it,” she said. “We all go to battle together, we all share that locker room. The least you can do is say something. A message, a call, anything. It’s about respect.”

Cunningham’s words struck a chord—not just with fans but with fellow players and coaches who have watched the WNBA evolve into a more media-covered, high-stakes league where off-court actions matter just as much as performance on the court.

The situation has sparked a wider discussion across sports media about professionalism, communication, and locker room dynamics in the era of player empowerment. While trades and signings are a natural part of professional sports, the way athletes handle their transitions is now under more scrutiny than ever.

Supporters of Bonner argue that she has the right to make personal and professional decisions on her own terms—and that players, especially women athletes, shouldn’t always be expected to explain themselves. Others believe that in a team-first sport like basketball, the way you leave matters just as much as the impact you had while you were there.

Cunningham, known for her fiery playing style and outspoken demeanor, is no stranger to controversy herself. But her comments here have drawn a wave of support online from fans who say she’s simply asking for common courtesy.

“It’s not about drama,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Sophie is saying what a lot of teammates wish they could say. You don’t just ghost a team.”

Another user echoed the sentiment: “If you’ve been in a locker room, you know how deep those bonds can run. A text takes 30 seconds.”

The Fever organization, for their part, has remained quiet on the matter. And Bonner has not publicly responded to Cunningham’s remarks.

As for Cunningham, she’s not backing down. In a follow-up interview, she made it clear that her comments weren’t about creating tension—they were about accountability.

“We all want this league to grow. We want more eyes on us, more respect, more money,” she said. “That means holding ourselves to a standard. That starts with how we treat each other.”

It’s a powerful statement in a league where emotions run high and relationships are everything. Whether or not Bonner addresses the controversy, the conversation sparked by Cunningham isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.

In a season already full of drama, this latest dust-up adds yet another layer to the WNBA’s ever-expanding spotlight.