Phoenix Mercury star Sophie Cunningham received an unexpected and touching outpouring of support from Tony Durant, the younger brother of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, after she was fined $1,500 by the WNBA for her outburst at a referee during a recent game.

The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the Mercury’s match against the Chicago Sky, when Cunningham expressed her displeasure over a foul she felt the referee missed. The 27-year-old exchanged words, leading to her being fined for “unsportsmanlike conduct toward a game official.”

Shortly after the fine was announced, Tony Durant posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):

“It’s not wrong to stand up and defend yourself. Sometimes you need to speak up so people understand what you’re fighting for. Sophie, keep playing with your fire.”

The message of encouragement quickly went viral, receiving thousands of likes and comments. Many fans expressed sympathy for Cunningham, saying her fighting spirit is what makes the WNBA so appealing.

Cunningham, who is known for her aggressive and fearless style of play, later retweeted Tony Durant’s post with a heart emoji and the words: “Thank you for understanding me.”

The WNBA has not commented on the incident, but it continues to reignite the long-standing debate about how referees handle player emotions and reactions in the league.