Fever star Sophie Cunningham shuts down rumors about unhappiness with contract
· Yahoo Sports
The Indiana Fever brought back guard Sophie Cunningham on a one-year deal ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, but the reunion didn’t go as smoothly as expected.
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Cunningham played for Indiana last year after a midseason trade, and the front office moved quickly to re-sign her during free agency. The deal itself looked straightforward on the surface, but the reaction told a different story.
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Sophie Cunningham clarifies Indiana Fever contract frustration
Cunningham opened up about the negotiations on her ‘Show Me Something’ podcast, and she didn’t sugarcoat things. She called the process difficult and admitted the business side of professional basketball wore on her.
At 27 years old, Cunningham is in a critical phase of her career, and the uncertainty around her future became clear in her tone. Social media picked up on her comments fast, and speculation flooded in. Most people assumed she was upset about the money.
That assumption spread quickly, but it missed the mark. Cunningham responded directly on X this week to set the record straight.
“I’m gonna shut this down right now. I’m not mad about the money,” Cunningham wrote on X. “I just wanted more years because I love it here. I wanted to get a house so I could bring my dog and donkey to Indy with me. That’s it. That’s the truth. I think we have something very special here in Indiana!!”
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) warms up before a game.Her frustration wasn’t about the contract value. She wanted security and the ability to settle into Indianapolis long-term, not just for another season.
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Cunningham is coming off an injury-shortened 2025 campaign that limited her to 30 games. Despite the setbacks, she still ranked fourth on the Fever in scoring with 257 points and tied for fourth in rebounding with 105 boards.
Cunningham led the team with a 43.2 percent three-point shooting mark, which ranked third across the entire WNBA. That kind of accuracy from beyond the arc gave Indiana a legitimate weapon on the perimeter.
The injury cut into what could’ve been a breakout year. Now that she’s healthy again, the Fever are banking on her shooting and versatility to elevate the roster in 2026.