WNBL: UC Capitals star fuming over punishment for brazen shove from Boomers Sophie Cunningham
Melbourne Boomers import Sophie Cunningham hit on Kelly Froling has been classed as ‘careless.’ And Froling is fuming about the verdict. Was the penalty not harsh enough?
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UC Capitals star Kelly Froling has lashed the WNBL’s decision to issue feisty Melbourne Boomers import Sophie Cunningham with only a fine for a brazen open-handed shove to the face.
Cunningham escaped suspension yesterday after the league graded her run-in with Froling as “careless”, resulting in a $250 sanction (down from $500) on an early guilty plea.
Cunningham was cited for making contact to Froling’s face during the Capital’s loss last Sunday at the State Basketball Centre.
Here's the footage I've had sent to me of Sophie Cunningham on Keely Froling.
— Brent Ford (@BrentFord26) February 23, 2020
This doesn't belong in the #WNBL pic.twitter.com/nwWaWtANfJ
“Soooo guess you can hit people in the face now and all you get is a $250 fine, good to know...” Froling posted on Twitter shortly after the verdict.
“And my surgery has cost over $2000 plus more specialist surgery to come maybe the fines could be put towards that.”
The surgery reference dates back to a Round 14 clash with the Boomers, which left Froling with a badly broken nose.
Cunningham aggravated the Caps further late in the same game, flooring guard Maddison Rocci.
The import was cited for unduly rough play on that occasion.
The latest Cunningham finding will guarantee the Boomers face an even more hostile reception in tonight’s cutthroat semi-final at AIS Arena.
Boomers guard Lindsay Allen said the team learned from the Game 1 loss in Canberra.
“Canberra really took it to us,” Allen said.
“Our defence just wasn’t up to par and they punished us.
“We need to just worry about us this time around.
“They have good home support, they’re really loud and they’re going to be raring to go in this decider game but at the same time it will bring our team closer together.”