The Indiana Fever’s already frustrating season reached a boiling point on Friday night after a series of controversial officiating decisions in their 88-85 loss to the Dallas Wings left star guard Sophie Cunningham fuming, with the veteran player publicly accusing referees of corruption and rigging the game.

The defeat, which dropped Indiana further out of playoff contention, was marred by 47 fouls—many of which appeared to favor Dallas—and a last-second no-call that denied the Fever a potential game-tying three.

Cunningham, who was ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing with officials, did not mince words in her post-game remarks, declaring the WNBA’s officiating “a joke” and demanding an investigation.

The tension was palpable from the opening tip. Dallas, led by All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale, attacked the rim aggressively, drawing early fouls on Indiana’s frontcourt. By halftime, the Wings had shot 22 free throws compared to Indiana’s eight—a disparity that only widened as the game progressed.

Fever head coach Christie Sides was hit with a technical foul midway through the third quarter after slamming her clipboard and shouting, “Call it both ways!”

The real fireworks, however, came in the final minutes. With Indiana trailing by three, Cunningham drove hard to the basket, colliding with Dallas center Teaira McCowan. The whistle blew—offensive foul on Cunningham.

Replays showed McCowan sliding under her as she took off, but officials upheld the call. Cunningham, incensed, charged toward referee Jenna Reneau, shouting, “You’re cheating! This is rigged!” She was quickly ejected, and as she stormed off the court, she flipped her jersey toward the scorers’ table, yelling, “This league is corrupt!”

The no-call that followed moments later only added fuel to the fire. With 1.7 seconds left, Indiana inbounded the ball to forward NaLyssa Smith, who pump-faked and launched a three-pointer over Dallas defender Satou Sabally

Sabally’s hand made clear contact with Smith’s elbow, but no whistle blew. The shot clanged off the rim, and Dallas secured the rebound, sealing the win.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Smith, who finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. “We fought, we clawed, and the refs decided the game. It’s not fair to the fans, it’s not fair to us.”

Cunningham, who declined to speak to reporters post-game, instead took to Instagram Live, where she unleashed a 10-minute tirade. “This isn’t basketball anymore. It’s entertainment.

And the refs are paid actors,” she said, her voice shaking with anger. “Dallas didn’t win tonight. The refs handed them the game. And I’m sick of it.” She ended with a direct accusation: “Someone needs to investigate these officials. They’re corrupt.”

The fallout was instantaneous. #RiggedWNBA trended on X (formerly Twitter) within minutes, with fans dissecting every controversial call. A slow-motion clip of Sabally’s contact on Smith’s game-tying attempt amassed over 5 million views, captioned: “THESE REFS SHOULD BE FIRED.”

Dallas, meanwhile, celebrated its fifth straight win, moving into third place in the Western Conference. Ogunbowale, who scored 28 points and shot 14-of-16 from the free-throw line, brushed off the criticism: “We played aggressive. The refs called it how they saw it.” Coach Latricia Trammell added, “I thought the officiating was fine. Indiana’s just frustrated.”

But not all Wings players were as diplomatic. Guard Veronica Burton, who had a heated exchange with Cunningham in the first half, tweeted: “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. The refs didn’t lose y’all the game.” The post was later deleted.

The Fever’s locker room was a mix of dejection and defiance. Veteran center Amanda Zahui B. called the officiating “unprofessional,” while rookie forward Aliyah Boston—usually reserved—said, “I’ve never been part of a game like that. It felt predetermined.”

Coach Sides, who could face a fine for her post-game comments, didn’t hold back. “I’ve been in this league a long time, and tonight was one of the worst-officiated games I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Sophie’s frustration is valid. We’re not asking for favoritism. We’re asking for consistency.”

The loss dropped Indiana to 9-20, putting their already slim playoff hopes in further jeopardy. But for Cunningham, the issue transcends wins and losses. “This is about integrity,” she told a local Indianapolis reporter. “The WNBA wants to be taken seriously, but how can it be when the refs are deciding outcomes?”

The league’s response was swift but measured. WNBA Head of Referees, Dee Kantner, released a statement: “We review all games for officiating accuracy. The Fever-Wings contest is under evaluation, and we will address any missed calls per standard protocol.”

However, sources say the league is “concerned” about Cunningham’s corruption allegations, which could lead to a formal investigation or even fines for the guard.

This isn’t the first time the WNBA has faced officiating controversies, but rarely have they been framed as systemic corruption. In 2022, a Last Two Minute Report revealed multiple missed calls in a playoff game between the Sky and Sun, leading to referee suspensions.

But Cunningham’s claim of widespread rigging—especially with a specific team allegedly benefiting—strikes at the heart of the league’s competitive credibility.

Fan reactions have been polarized. A growing contingent of Fever supporters are threatening to boycott games, with one viral petition demanding the WNBA “clean house” in its officiating department. “If they want us to invest in this league, they need to show us the game is fair,” said longtime season-ticket holder Marcus Johnson.

Conversely, Dallas fans have dismissed Cunningham’s outrage as “sour grapes.” “Indiana lost because they couldn’t defend the paint,” argued @WingsNation_23. “Crying about refs is pathetic.”

The debate has spilled into other sports media, with ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo cautioning against jumping to conclusions. “Emotions run high after losses. But ‘corruption’ is a serious word,” she said. “The league has to respond—but so do players. You can criticize calls without accusing officials of fraud.”

The incident has also placed a spotlight on the relationship between players and referees. The WNBA’s officiating pool is smaller than the NBA’s, leading to less experience among some crews. Additionally, the physicality of the women’s game—where drives to the basket often result in hard contact—can lead to subjective calls.

But Cunningham’s accusation goes beyond missed fouls. By labeling the referees “corrupt,” she implies intentional manipulation, which, if proven, would be a scandal of unprecedented magnitude for the league.

For now, the WNBA finds itself at a crossroads. Will it dismiss Cunningham’s claims as frustration, or will it launch a full-scale review? The answer could shape not only Indiana’s season but the very trust fans place in the integrity of the game.

As the Fever prepare for a rematch against Dallas next month, one thing is clear: The tension won’t be confined to the court. It will be in the whistles, the replays, and the lingering question—was this really basketball, or something far more sinister?