When the Indiana Fever topped the Dallas Wings 88-78 on August 1, the victory should have been the headline. Instead, one fourth-quarter play has fans talking about something else entirely. It’s the kind of moment that makes rookies look like seasoned pros and leaves defenders questioning everything they thought they knew about coverage.
Why Are Fans Trolling Sophie Cunningham After Viral Play?
The moment that’s making waves across the internet happened in the fourth quarter. With Dallas trailing and desperate for momentum, Paige Bueckers found herself isolated against the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham.
What unfolded next was a masterclass in offensive basketball that left Cunningham looking helpless on an island.
Paige Bueckers got Sophie Cunningham jumping… pic.twitter.com/d5N3sinE9s
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) August 2, 2025
The Wings rookie used a sharp hesitation dribble, baiting Cunningham into jumping for what looked like a potential pull-up jumper. Instead, Bueckers calmly sidestepped, found her rhythm, and buried a mid-range shot as the crowd erupted.
Fans didn’t spare a moment in delivering their reactions to the sequence.
What Are Fans Saying About Bueckers’ Dominance?
The social media reaction was swift and merciless. One fan declared, “Paige got Sophie in hell.”
paige got sophie in hell pic.twitter.com/ria9REtmjj
— womensbasketballfan (@womensbasketb12) August 2, 2025
Bueckers finished the night with 22 points and 4 rebounds across 34 minutes of action. Her efficient scoring under pressure has already established her as a standout in her debut WNBA campaign. That particular shot wasn’t just about technical skill, it was about the confidence to execute when the lights were brightest.
One fan captured the sentiment perfectly by stating, “She’s an elite player, they can’t guard her.”
She’s an elite player, they can’t guard her.
— Ey Gray (@yhanggaray) August 2, 2025
However, not all the commentary was purely trolling Cunningham. Many users pointed out that the Fever defender actually made the right read by sagging slightly to stay in front of Bueckers. The problem? Bueckers’ combination of dribble speed and footwork was simply too advanced to contain.
“Paige is to good off the dribble. Sophie played her right by playing off just didn’t have the footwork and speed to cut her off,” said one observer.
Paige is to good off the dribble Sophie played her right by playing off just didn’t have the footwork and speed to cut her off.
— Shelroc (@TimShelton88433) August 2, 2025
How Did the Wings Respond Despite Bueckers’ Brilliance?
While Bueckers showcased her elite skillset, it ultimately wasn’t enough to change Dallas’s fortunes. The Wings struggled from the opening tip, trailing by six points at halftime as Indiana maintained control throughout the first two quarters.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Despite a brief surge of momentum in the fourth quarter that included Bueckers’ highlight-reel play, Dallas couldn’t close the gap and suffered their 21st loss of the 2025 season. As impressive as the rookie’s performance was, fans noted that a victory would have been the perfect complement to her individual excellence.
“It would of been better if they won,” said one fan, summing up the bittersweet nature of the moment.
It would of been better if they won
— Eli Blu (@Just_The_T1PP) August 2, 2025
In a league filled with highlight-reel plays, sometimes one sequence captures everything you need to know about a player’s potential. On August 1, that moment belonged entirely to Bueckers, serving notice that her transition to professional basketball is ahead of schedule.
