Sophie Cunningham clarifies herself (Photo Via X)
Sophie Cunningham just reminded everyone that owning your words, and clarifying them, still matters.
The 28-year-old Indiana Fever guard stirred things up earlier this week with blunt comments about the WNBA’s expansion cities. “I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” she said, pointing to cities like Miami, Nashville and Kansas City as more exciting options.
That didn’t sit well with fans in Michigan or Ohio. Detroit’s official city account called itself “a sports town.” Cleveland clapped back with a video of Caitlin Clark showing love to the city. Social media wasn’t quiet either.
Sophie Cunningham Stood By Her Opinion, But Showed Where Her Heart Is
Sophie Cunningham (Photo By Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images)
Cunningham didn’t backpedal. But she did step up.
“All I was really getting at is like—Broadway, the off-court lifestyle,” she explained Thursday. “Miami is intriguing. That’s all I was getting at.”
She made it crystal clear she meant no disrespect toward blue-collar cities. “I would never speak down upon middle class, blue collar, working people,” Cunningham said. “That’s where I come from. I’m from Missouri.”
And that’s what hit home. The guard known for her grit and fire on the court showed a more thoughtful side off it. She wasn’t deflecting criticism, just explaining her perspective.
“It’s me—people are going to love me, people are going to hate me,” she said. “That was my personal opinion. I think lifestyle is super important… especially for mental health nowadays.”
Cunningham, now in her first season with the Fever after six years with Phoenix, brought up a valid point many players consider: location matters. Free agents chase lifestyle just as much as championship rings. “Broadway sounds fun. Sophie in Miami sounds fun,” she joked.
But despite the controversy, she handled the heat with honesty and grace.
By Thursday afternoon, Cunningham showed she wasn’t hiding behind a PR script. “People totally misread the situation,” she said. “I think it would be fun to get some teams outside of NBA markets.”
The WNBA, led by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, confirmed its next expansion teams: Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia. Others like Miami, Nashville, and Houston made bids, but didn’t make the final cut.
Cunningham gave her take, caught flak, then explained where she was coming from without throwing anyone under the bus. That’s rare these days, and people noticed.
