Cameras caught Los Angeles Sparks point guard Julie Vanloo appearing to briefly put Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham in a chokehold during a loose ball scramble in the first quarter of Saturday’s highly anticipated matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But instead of igniting a major confrontation or drawing league-wide outrage, the moment ended in a shared laugh between two of the WNBA’s most physical and fiercely competitive players.
It was an unexpected scene. With tensions already high in a physical game and the playoff race heating up, many expected fireworks. Instead, fans were treated to a rare glimpse of sportsmanship and mutual respect in the midst of a gritty battle for possession.
Julie Vanloo and Sophie Cunningham (Photo via Twitter)
The play happened with just under four minutes left in the opening quarter. As the ball ricocheted near the baseline, both Vanloo and Cunningham dove to the hardwood in an attempt to recover it. In the flurry of motion, Vanloo’s arm briefly wrapped around Cunningham’s neck in what appeared to be a chokehold. The camera angle caught it clearly, and social media was quick to react. But what came next wasn’t outrage or retaliation—it was laughter. Cunningham, who has built a reputation as one of the WNBA’s toughest and most no-nonsense players, got up and shared a chuckle with Vanloo. Vanloo smiled back. The moment passed as quickly as it happened, and the game continued.
For casual fans, it may have looked like an intense play gone too far. But for those who have followed Sophie Cunningham’s career closely, the incident fits squarely within her identity as the unofficial enforcer of the Indiana Fever. Acquired in a four-team trade back in January, Cunningham didn’t take long to establish herself as the player who will stand up when things get rough—especially when it involves protecting a teammate.
Just a couple of weeks ago, on June 17, Cunningham was ejected from a game against the Connecticut Sun after she placed rookie Jacy Sheldon in a chokehold while Sheldon was driving to the basket. That moment wasn’t playful—it was a direct response to Sheldon hitting Caitlin Clark in the face just a few minutes earlier. Cunningham’s reaction was swift and fierce. She was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul, fined $400, and tossed from the game. But many Fever fans, and even some neutrals, praised her for standing up for her teammate.
That context is what makes her reaction to Saturday’s incident all the more interesting. Vanloo’s momentary chokehold might have triggered a very different reaction under other circumstances. But instead of escalating the moment, both players laughed it off. It was an example of how experienced veterans can bring intensity without animosity—and how mutual respect can defuse what might otherwise be a volatile situation.
Julie Vanloo, a 31-year-old Belgian point guard, is in her first WNBA season with the Sparks. Known for her flashy playmaking and international success in Europe, Vanloo has quickly adapted to the WNBA’s physicality and high stakes. Her willingness to scrap for loose balls and get into the trenches has made her a critical part of a Sparks team desperately fighting to stay in the playoff race. Los Angeles came into Saturday’s game at 6-13, just three games back of the final postseason spot, and badly in need of a momentum-shifting win.
Against the Fever, they got just that. Despite being without star rookie Caitlin Clark for the third straight game due to a groin injury, Indiana fought hard, leaning on their defense and gritty effort to keep things close. But the Sparks, led by a clutch performance from Kelsey Plum and contributions from Vanloo, held on for a narrow 89-87 victory. For Los Angeles, it was a potential season-saving result.
Cunningham’s role in this Fever team continues to evolve. With Clark out, and with the team hovering around the .500 mark, her presence as a vocal leader and physical force has never been more important. She’s not the team’s top scorer, and she doesn’t need to be. Her value lies in her ability to set a tone—whether it’s protecting teammates, drawing tough defensive assignments, or giving her team an emotional spark when things get chippy.
And there’s no doubt the WNBA has gotten chippy this season. From repeated hard fouls on Caitlin Clark to tense rivalries between players and teams, the league has seen a surge in physicality and raw emotion on the court. Cunningham has been in the middle of much of it—not always as the aggressor, but always as the player who won’t back down.
That’s exactly why Saturday’s moment with Vanloo was so surprising. For someone known to retaliate when provoked, Cunningham showed a lighter side. And Vanloo, for her part, showed that she can play tough without crossing the line into dirty play. Together, the two reminded fans that intensity and respect can co-exist—and that even in a league filled with fierce competition, moments of levity still have their place.
Fans were quick to react on social media, many praising both players for how they handled the situation. “This is the kind of energy the league needs,” one fan posted on X. “Two competitors going at it, but still laughing afterward. That’s what sports should be.” Another fan wrote, “Sophie laughing it off says everything you need to know. She’s tough, but she’s not petty. Love her more after this.”
Others pointed out the contrast between this moment and Cunningham’s earlier altercation with Sheldon. That incident had drawn criticism from some corners of the basketball world, with calls for stricter punishment and questions about player conduct. But Saturday’s interaction helped show that Cunningham isn’t a one-dimensional enforcer. She knows when to fight, and she knows when to let it go.
As for Vanloo, the Belgian guard is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Los Angeles. Her fiery play and fearlessness have given the Sparks an edge, and her willingness to throw herself into every possession has not gone unnoticed by teammates or fans. She may not be the most talked-about player in the league, but she’s proving to be one of the most valuable.
With the WNBA season heating up and the playoff picture coming into focus, moments like these matter. They show us who the competitors are. They reveal the personalities behind the stats. And they remind us that even in the most intense situations, there is still room for grace, laughter, and sportsmanship.
The Sparks will be hoping Saturday’s win is the beginning of a turnaround. At 7-13, they remain in the hunt for a playoff berth, and if players like Vanloo continue to step up, they might just find a way in. The Fever, meanwhile, will be eagerly awaiting Caitlin Clark’s return while leaning on veterans like Cunningham to keep them afloat in the meantime.
Sophie Cunningham (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
Whether you saw it as a choke, a joke, or just a quirky WNBA moment, one thing is clear: Julie Vanloo and Sophie Cunningham delivered one of the most talked-about highlights of the week. Not because it ended in controversy — but because it ended in a smile.
And in a season where emotions are high, rivalries are intense, and the spotlight has never been brighter, that smile may have said more than any headline ever could.
