logo
Fever's Sophie Cunningham responds to backlash over comments about Cleveland, Detroit as WNBA expansion sites

Fever's Sophie Cunningham responds to backlash over comments about Cleveland, Detroit as WNBA expansion sites

Fox News3 days ago
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham faced criticism for comments about the WNBA choosing Cleveland and Detroit as two of its next markets for expansion.
The league announced that those two cities and Philadelphia will be getting WNBA teams by the end of 2030 in an announcement earlier this week, prompting Cunningham to question whether players wanted those cities to be chosen for expansion.
"I don't know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]," Cunningham told reporters on July 1.
Cunningham clarified her comments while speaking to reporters on Thursday, and defended "blue-collar working people" associated with Cleveland and Detroit.
"First of all, I know the history of the WNBA. I know that both of those cities have had teams before, and they got us where we're at, so I'm thankful for that," she said. "All I was really getting at was Broadway, the off-court lifestyle and so I think that is really intriguing. I think Miami's intriguing. That's all I was getting at."
"I think it would be fun to get some teams outside of the NBA market . . . . I think people totally misread the situation. I would never speak down upon middle-class, blue-collar working people. That's where I come from. I'm from Missouri. I get I'm in Indiana, and that's why I'm kind of hinting at Broadway sounds fun, Miami sounds fun. That's all I was getting at."
Cunningham also addressed the backlash to her comments.
"The people that hype you up are going to be the same people pushing you down. And so for me, I always just kind of stay right here in the middle. I think that was my personal opinion," she said.
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers.
A five-part feature series by Cunningham's alma mater, the University of Missouri, recounted her family's southern farm roots.
Cunningham learned to ride horses and drove four-wheelers to the family's grain silos.
"So much of our success goes back to what we learned here," Cunningham said of working on the farm. "We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong."
Cunningham even had a special name for her farmer grandparents: "Maw Maw and Paw Paw."
However, Cunningham suggested glitzier markets for WNBA expansion in her initial criticisms, pointing to Miami and Kansas City.
"Like, where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans? I think Miami would have been a great one. Everyone loves Florida. Nashville is an amazing city. Kansas City — amazing opportunity. There's a huge arena downtown that no one's using," Cunningham said. "I'm not so sure what the thought process is there.
"At the end of the day, you don't want to expand our league too fast. We don't want teams to totally dominate and some that aren't. It's a hard situation, but, man, I don't know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]."
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Liberty vs. Aces odds, tips and betting trends - 7/8/2025
Liberty vs. Aces odds, tips and betting trends - 7/8/2025

USA Today

time21 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Liberty vs. Aces odds, tips and betting trends - 7/8/2025

The Las Vegas Aces (9-9) will look to A'ja Wilson (second in WNBA, 21.9 points per game) going up against Breanna Stewart (fourth in league, 19.8) and the New York Liberty (12-6) on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Barclays Center. The matchup starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. New York lost at home to Seattle 79-70 last time out, and was led by Sabrina Ionescu (22 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 36.8 FG%, 5-11 from 3PT) and Natasha Cloud (12 PTS, 50.0 FG%, 2-3 from 3PT). In its most recent game, Las Vegas won on the road over Connecticut 86-68, with Wilson (19 PTS, 2 STL, 4 BLK, 80.0 FG%) and Dana Evans (18 PTS, 63.6 FG%) the standout performers. Read on for everything you need to prepare before Tuesday's game. New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 6:05 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Liberty moneyline insights Aces moneyline insights Liberty vs. Aces: Game time and info Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change. Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice. Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.

Mystics vs. Sky odds, tips and betting trends - 7/8/2025
Mystics vs. Sky odds, tips and betting trends - 7/8/2025

USA Today

time21 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Mystics vs. Sky odds, tips and betting trends - 7/8/2025

One game after going off for 20 points in an 80-75 loss to the Lynx, Rachel Banham leads the Chicago Sky (5-12) on the road against the Washington Mystics (8-10) on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. It will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on The U and MNMT. In its most recent game, Washington lost to Minnesota, 92-75, on the road. Its top performers were Lucy Olsen (19 PTS, 70.0 FG%) and Aaliyah Edwards (15 PTS, 85.7 FG%). In its most recent game, Chicago fell to Minnesota, 80-75, on the road. Its top scorers were Banham (20 PTS, 53.8 FG%, 6-10 from 3PT) and Angel Reese (16 PTS, 17 REB, 6 AST, 43.8 FG%). Prepare for this matchup with everything you need to know before Tuesday's WNBA action. Watch the WNBA on Fubo! Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 6:05 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Mystics moneyline insights Sky moneyline insights Mystics vs. Sky: Game time and info Watch the WNBA on Fubo!

WNBA power rankings: Dallas' young cast looks like a strong support for Paige Bueckers
WNBA power rankings: Dallas' young cast looks like a strong support for Paige Bueckers

New York Times

time28 minutes ago

  • New York Times

WNBA power rankings: Dallas' young cast looks like a strong support for Paige Bueckers

This weekend's announcement of the All-Star Game reserves provided an interesting button to one of the more controversial moves of the offseason: Chicago's trade for Ariel Atkins. The Sky sent the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft (along with first-round swap rights in 2027) to bring in Atkins; put another way, four years of cost control on a rookie for a one-year rental. Advertisement These swings work when the veteran player is good enough in the present to counteract the future value lost. The Los Angeles Sparks made a similar risk in trading the No. 2 pick for Kelsey Plum. However, when the player Atkins was ostensibly traded for, Sonia Citron, is already out-producing the veteran in Year 1 — voted an All-Star alongside her rookie teammate Kiki Iriafen — it poses some questions about team-building. In Chicago's defense, the Mystics and the Connecticut Sun were the only teams with the courage to attempt a rebuild this season. With the rollicking momentum the WNBA is experiencing, it's challenging to sit out a year and watch other teams pass you by. The Sparks, though Plum is at least outperforming Dominique Malonga, haven't experienced the success they hoped for with their veteran acquisition either. The best teams in the WNBA are generally built through multiple top draft picks. In recent vintage, the Seattle Storm won in 2018 and 2020 with the 2015 and 2016 No. 1 picks — plus Sue Bird from way back in 2002. Las Vegas had the top selections in 2017, 2018 and 2019. New York drafted only one top pick in Sabrina Ionescu but brought in Breanna Stewart and traded for another MVP in Jonquel Jones. Indiana is building toward contention with two consecutive top picks of its own. Having one great rookie, even if she put up historical numbers like Angel Reese, generally isn't enough to get the job done. And the idea of punting the present for the future may not even apply anymore. The current generation of college stars is more ready for the pros than previous groups; a great four-year collegian might be able to produce as well as an established veteran. Team-building is an art. Not all franchises can follow the same template. However, to lose a win-now trade in the present is a tough pill to swallow, the kind of outcome that might make teams a little more conservative moving forward. The Wings started a lineup of four rookies plus Li Yueru, who is in her third season, on Thursday against Phoenix. Against a trio of Mercury All-Stars and all-WNBA players, the youngins held their own. As Dallas has dealt with a rash of injuries, the absence of the veterans has clarified who fits around Paige Bueckers. Every decision the Wings make from here on out should be to optimize Bueckers, and the rookies seem to match her playing style. Advertisement JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James play with pace and make quick decisions with the ball. Quinerly is always pushing the tempo of makes and misses, while James immediately knows how she wants to attack, whether that's with a shot or a drive. Luisa Geiselsöder is a little more methodical in the half court, but she's a useful screening and handoff partner — the pairing of Bueckers and Geiselsöder has a better true shooting percentage than any other Bueckers duo. In the win against Phoenix, Dallas got 72 points from rookies, the most of any WNBA team since 1999, per Across the Timeline. It was also the first time in league history that three rookies have had at least 15 points and five assists. The pecking order is clear with no veterans — Bueckers is the best player on the team, and she shouldn't have to defer to players with more experience. Quinerly, James and the young bigs know where they stand — they play through Bueckers. When Bueckers tells Quinerly to 'go' on a jump ball late in the game, Quinerly starts running to the spot before the ball gets there. The Wings got a gift in the NaLyssa Smith trade, an opportunity to build up assets while also clearing out minutes for players who will be part of the future. With the way the rookies are performing, it might be worthwhile to move out more veterans by the Aug. 7 trade deadline. Now that Karlie Samuelson is out for the season with a foot injury, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve has to start trusting Diamond Miller. Natisha Hiedeman can't be the only guard off the bench, and 20-year-old Anastasiia Kosu won't be ready in time for the postseason. It has to be Miller. After Miller got hurt and lost her starting spot to Bridget Carleton in 2024, she only reached double-figure minutes eight times over 36 games. Two of those were contests that Napheesa Collier missed. Miller hasn't had a lot of time to prove herself, but if she is to be counted on in the postseason, Reeve has to start building trust in her now. To wit, Miller has averaged 13 minutes since Samuelson went out. Advertisement Miller still looks like she doesn't know how to play off Collier; the cuts and off-ball movement in the halfcourt don't come naturally to the third-year guard. The comfort comes in transition, where Miller is an absolute freight train. She has more juice attacking the basket against even a set defense than anyone else on the Lynx. Miller's 3-point shot also looks smooth as the release is quick, and she's hit 3-of-6 during this stretch. There have been defensive lapses. Her inability to get around a screen at the top of the key against the Valkyries forced a rotation that led to Tiffany Hayes' open 3-pointer. A couple possessions later, Miller inexplicably doubled off Kate Martin in the corner, and the ball found its way to Martin in two passes. But when she puts in the effort, Miller has so many athletic gifts. Janelle Salaün looked genuinely stunned at the quality of a Miller closeout in the fourth quarter. Malonga is Seattle's highest draft pick since 2016, when the Storm lucked into Stewart, the greatest college player of her generation. Seeing the present go up against the past has to make Seattle feel good about its future. Malonga played only 10 minutes against the Liberty, a few of which came in garbage time, but she came to play on national television. Not a lot of rookies can bump Stewart off her spot and then hit a fadeaway, but Malonga managed that during a seven-minute stretch when she scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Storm extended a six-point lead to 19. Malonga is massive around the rim and makes what should be easy finishes impossible for the opposing team. She is hit-or-miss in terms of her impact, but early in her career, Malonga has already had productive stretches against Stewart and Collier. The magnitude of the matchup doesn't faze her. Malonga hitting a Dirk fade over Stewie in the midst of a personal 6-0 run is what we came for, folks: [image or embed] — Lucas Kaplan (@ July 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM A lot of rookies already have gotten shine this week, so let's turn the focus to one who may be falling out of the rotation soon. With DeWanna Bonner waived, Damiris Dantas with Brazil at the AmeriCup and Brianna Turner relatively ineffective, Timpson has become the bench big of choice for Indiana coach Stephanie White. It's easy to see why White trusts the rookie, because Timpson has a high motor on defense, and the Fever have had to rely on their defense in Caitlin Clark's absence. Timpson is incredibly disruptive. She comes up high on screens, she pushes ballhandlers out to the perimeter and she has a good sense of where loose balls will end up. The all-energy, all-the-time philosophy is more useful on offense than defense. She had a couple mis-timed reads on passes and attempted to post up Chelsea Gray (a surprisingly sturdy paint defender) this past week. Yet Timpson has her moments, including a flash off a Natasha Howard post-up and a nice left-handed take against the Sparks. She has the best on-off differential for the Fever this season (plus-12.4 points per 100 possessions); all of that value comes from the defensive end. With Dantas on her way back, White has more options at her disposal again. Timpson has proven that she can hold up, even if it's shorter shifts. That manic defensive presence comes in handy. The Wings have won five of their last seven, and the Fever are starting to figure some things out defensively, which they did to great effect in the Commissioner's Cup title game. Nonetheless, let's not bury the lead — with any luck, this is the first time Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark will face off as WNBA players. After the drama of their final meeting in college, when a moving screen call helped Clark and the Hawkeyes advance to the national title game, and Clark missed the Fever's first game in Dallas, the anticipation to see the last two No. 1 picks on the court together is high. Let's see how two of the future faces of the league match up. (Photo of JJ Quinerly: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store