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Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sophie Cunningham Sends Clear Message After Controversial WNBA Comments
Sophie Cunningham Sends Clear Message After Controversial WNBA Comments originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Sophie Cunningham has been playing through her first season with the Indiana Fever, emerging as one of the top players in the lineup. Advertisement Cunningham has emerged onto the scene as one of the most well-known players in the WNBA, especially with her recent comments. In the past couple of days, the WNBA has announced some exciting news, including the expansion of three teams. The league will be welcoming three new teams in the coming years in the following cities: Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. While many fans were excited about the news, Cunningham questioned the WNBA's decision. She mentioned that she doesn't know how excited fans would be about having expanded to cities like Cleveland or Detroit. Her previous quote has since blown up, but Cunningham recently spoke on the situation, explaining that she wasn't being critical of the specific locations. Advertisement "First of all, I know the history behind the WNBA," Cunningham said, per Tony East. "I know that both of those cities have had teams before and they got us to where we're at, so I'm thankful for that. "All I was really getting at was like, Broadway, the off court lifestyle... I'm thankful for they have done with the history of our sport. I think it would be fun to get some teams outside the NBA market. I do think there's benefit when you do have an NBA team, but that's all I was getting at." Here's a look at Sophie Cunningham's previous comments on the WNBA's expansion, which caused a frenzy on social media. Advertisement "I'm not so sure what the thought process is there, but at the end of the day, you want to make sure that you're not expanding our league too fast," Cunningham said, per ESPN. "I think that that's also another thing. It's kind of a hard decision-making situation. But man, I don't know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]." Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) is in the middle of controversy for questioning WNBA Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Aside from all of the attention Sophie Cunningham has received for her comments on the WNBA's expansion, she's been quite the addition for the Indiana Fever. During her first season with the Fever, Cunningham has posted 5.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Advertisement Related: Patrick Mahomes Receives Unfortunate News on Monday Related: Kate Martin Sends Strong Message After WNBA Teammate Gets Released This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sophie Cunningham tried to clarify her unpopular comments about Cleveland and Detroit
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is attempting to clarify her controversial comments about the WNBA returning via expansion to Cleveland and Detroit. After Cunningham alluded that WNBA players wouldn't want to play in either city as opposed to more tourist-friendly cities like Nashville and Miami, Cunningham said she was more referring to the "off-court lifestyle" options that cities like Nashville and Miami offer. Advertisement She also said she appreciates the history that Cleveland and Detroit both bring to the league. "I'm thankful for what they've done for our history of the sport," Cunningham mentioned about Cleveland and Detroit, per Indiana reporter Tony East. "I think it would be fun to kind of get some teams outside the NBA market." One quick note: Cunningham specifically mentioned Broadway, Nashville's popular entertainment district, as a draw to WNBA players. Any longtime Nashvillian will tell you is the city's honky tonk Elephant Graveyard, only frequented by tourists and college students. If WNBA players moved to Nashville, they'd soon learn to avoid Broadway at all costs. Cunningham is certainly well within her right to prefer the WNBA to expand to other cities, but her mentioning Kansas City the other day as a better destination than Cleveland or Detroit kind of nullified her point. Advertisement We're sure some players would love to move to Nashville and Miami, but the goal there is more expansion in a reasonable timeline to join those cities without taking away from Cleveland and Detroit. However, with the new CBA looming, the W should prioritize its own players first before worrying about adding more teams. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Sophie Cunningham tried to clarify unpopular comments about Cleveland and Detroit
