The Indiana Fever’s 2025 season was a whirlwind that redefined the commercial potential of the WNBA. While Caitlin Clark remained the undeniable face of the league, her last season teammate Sophie Cunningham saw a meteoric rise to fame that few could have predicted. Earning the moniker “Caitlin Clark’s Bodyguard” for her relentless on-court protection of the rookie star, Cunningham successfully transitioned from a specialized role player into a massive digital powerhouse.
Her presence was felt so strongly that she landed at No. 7 on the list of the most-searched athletes in the U.S. for 2025, the only woman in the top ten. However, as we move into the early weeks of 2026, the irony is stark: despite being one of the most visible athletes in the country, Cunningham currently finds herself without a WNBA team for the upcoming season.
Cunningham’s “Dumb” CBA update and the threat of a WNBA lockout
The silence between the WNBA Players Association and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert regarding the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has become deafening. Tensions reached a breaking point when last month the WNBPA officially authorized its executive committee to call for a strike “when necessary.” This isn’t a hollow threat; it’s a warning shot from players who are tired of a system that caps the maximum salary at around $250,000.
During the last episode of her “Show Me Something” podcast, Sophie Cunningham, never one to mince words, gave a troubling update. When asked about the progress of the labor talks, Cunningham didn’t hold back, labeling the entire situation as “dumb.” She revealed that despite receiving weekly emails from the union, there has been “honestly nothing” in terms of actual progress.
“Our CBA is so dumb right now that it’s heading towards a lockout,” Cunningham stated bluntly. With free agency currently frozen in a moratorium as of mid-January, players like Cunningham are effectively in limbo, unable to sign new deals while the league and the union remain worlds apart on revenue-sharing models.
The $2 million global alternative to the WNBA’s financial stalemate
While the WNBA remains paralyzed by internal disputes, a new horizon has appeared for elite talent. Cunningham has already officially committed to Project B, a new global 5-on-5 startup league set to launch its inaugural season in late 2026. Founded by tech heavyweights from Skype and Facebook, Project B is positioning itself as a direct challenge to the WNBA’s financial structure.
Reports suggest Cunningham will earn a salary north of $2 million, which is roughly eight times the WNBA’s current supermax.This “gold rush” toward independent leagues is a direct response to the stagnant negotiations in the U.S. Project B won’t just offer life-changing money; it will feature a touring format with seven high-stakes tournaments across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, including equity stakes for the athletes.
For Cunningham, who revealed she turned the league down twice before finally signing, the move is about professional respect and global branding. As she enters her prime, the choice to secure a multi-million dollar deal overseas while her home league struggles to find a fair “net vs. gross” revenue model is becoming an increasingly common path for the WNBA’s top stars.
Read the full article here
