Sophie Cunningham’s arrival at the IndianaFever has come with impressive numbers to back her up as one of the team’s standout players-both on the court and among the fans. Her role coming off the bench has been particularly effective, helping the Fever score key points while also making her presence felt on defense.
Cunningham stood out during the Commissioner’s Cup, where she led all bench players in scoring against the Minnesota Lynx. Her value increases with every performance, solidifying her impact on the team.
The title earned this week marked the Fever’s first trophy since winning the WNBA championship back in 2012, making it an especially meaningful moment for the entire team.
Not just a victory-there was also money involved
With the 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup final, the players have been enjoying a celebratory week full of joy and well-earned excitement-something that victories naturally bring.
Alongside the trophy, each player also received a financial prize of $30,000. The excitement was palpable, and several players shared the celebration on Instagram, dancing with visible enthusiasm.
One video in particular captured Cunningham looking straight into the camera, smiling and clearly thrilled with the bonus. And honestly, who wouldn’t welcome a check like that?
Controversial remarks from Cunningham
However, the week wasn’t all celebration for Cunningham. She also came under fire for comments she made regarding the WNBA’s expansion plans.
Her dismissive tone toward Detroit and Cleveland-the two cities recently selected to host new WNBA franchises-did not sit well with many.
I also think you want to listen to your players too, like, where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans?” “Miami would’ve been a great one, Nashville is an amazing city, Kansas City- amazing opportunity with a huge arena downtown that no one’s using.
She went on:
I’m not so sure what the thought process is there,” the 28-year-old admitted. “… I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland].
The backlash was swift, coming from both residents and current or former athletes from those cities who felt personally targeted by her remarks.
One memorable response came from basketball legend Nancy Lieberman:
You might want to talk to LeBron. You might want to talk to Grant Hill… You might want to talk to Julius and Chuck and Allen Iverson.
Sometimes silence is golden, especially when the spotlight is already on you. But it seems Sophie Cunningham doesn’t shy away from the public eye-whether for better or worse.
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