Paige Bueckers shoots down Sophie Cunningham’s officiating criticisms

Paige Bueckers essentially responded to criticism from fellow WNBA star Sophie Cunningham with a shrug.

Following the Indiana Fever’s one-point loss to Bueckers and the Dallas Wings earlier this week, Cunningham publicly lamented what she believed were favorable calls for the former UConn point guard.

Bueckers scored 16 points but only attempted four free throws in the win.

“I love Paige to death, do not get me wrong. I think she’s a hell of a player and would love to play with her one day, but those refs were giving her every whistle last night,” Cunningham said Wednesday on her “Show Me Something” podcast. “You literally couldn’t touch her, couldn’t touch her. That s–t is so annoying to me.

“And if you’re going to do that, then give it to our guards. I just hate the inconsistency.”

Asked for her response before Friday’s 97-96 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, Buckers told reporters, “Everyone is entitled to their own unique personal opinion.”

Bueckers, the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, is averaging 18.8 points and 5.4 assists in her first 27 WNBA games.

But the Wings are in last place in the Western Conference with a 9-25 record, with the victory over the Fever their only win in their past seven games.

Cunningham’s gripes come amid chatter that their star, Caitlin Clark, does not draw foul calls as often as she should.

Clark is sidelined and the Fever are struggling to meet preseason aspirations without her.

Cunningham caused a stir on social media Friday by posting two photos on social media on Friday, one with her and goats and the other with her and Clark having a fun moment.

“They smell the same, too,” Cunningham wrote.

The Fever visit the league-worst Sun on Sunday and sit in seventh place in the WNBA with their 18-16 record.