'Stupid foul... just disrespectful.' Sun coach decries late Sophie Cunningham flagrant

INDIANAPOLIS – Connecticut Sun coach Rachid Meziane called the foul unnecessary and "completely stupid." Third-year center Olivia Nelson-Ododa expressed frustration with how the game was officiated, which allowed tensions to reach a breaking point at the end of regulation.

The Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun get into a scuffle Tuesday, June 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun, 88-71.

"It's not the first time it's happened," she said. "We’ve seen it on our end throughout our games this season. You can tune into other games and see it, too. It’s all over the league. But tonight it just happened to be us.”

Added Jaelyn Brown: “And at some point you have to defend yourself when stuff is happening to you. We have to take steps to do so.”

The incident in question transpired in the final minute of the Indiana Fever's 88-71 win over the Sun on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Jacy Sheldon — who poked Caitlin Clark in the eye during the third quarter, resulting in a brief shoving match between the two sides — went in for a fast-break layup attempt. And as she approached the basket, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham pulled her to the ground. Sheldon and teammate Lindsay Allen both went after Cunningham immediately, and the ensuing scrum spilled into the first row of courtside seating as players from both teams intervened.

“I did not understand,” Meziane said of Cunningham's foul. “When you are winning the game by 17 points and you are doing this, to me, stupid foul — this is just disrespectful. … It's just disrespectful to do that foul when you’re winning the game by 17 points. Completely stupid.”

Cunningham was ejected as were Sheldon and Allen — a decision which confused Meziane. "They did nothing," he said.

Meziane was proud of his team for "finding our character," but lamented they "lost our mind," allowing their emotions to get the best of them and talking too much with the officials.

“When it’s an away game, it will never be in our (favor)," he said of the officials. "It’s why I say we lost our mind, instead of sticking to our game plan and focusing on our game. It was a good learning opportunity, so hopefully we can learn from this game."

Nelson-Ododa was critical of the officials for essentially losing control of the game.

“Obviously it was a physical game. (And) obviously when things aren’t managed well to begin with, it tends to get out of hand," she said. "That’s what happened. That’s what was shown tonight. It goes with managing both teams on the court, managing calls and fouls and making sure that things aren’t just adding fuel to the fire throughout the game, where you have situations like this happen.”

To Nelson-Ododa's point, the final incident was preceded by pressure points earlier in regulation. 

Clark and Sheldon were seen jawing at one another earlier in the game. In the third quarter, Sheldon poked Clark in the eye then began walking toward her. The two collided with one another and Marina Mabrey shoved Clark, knocking her to the ground.

That play resulted in a flagrant 1 foul on Sheldon and technical fouls on Clark, Mabrey and Tina Charles.

Asked if he was surprised Mabrey wasn't ejected, Meziane replied: "No, I wasn’t surprised, because I don’t think her reaction was very big." 

"She just tried to be between two players, but no, I don't think she deserved to be ejected," he continued. "This is not my job. I am a coach. The ref has to do their job, to clean up the game and make sure the best team won the game and not just who is more physical. I don’t think my players deserved this ejection.”

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get all of IndyStar's Fever stories sent direct to your inbox with the Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.