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Indiana Fever -Star Sophie Cunningham was facing criticism of comments about WNBA and chose Cleveland and Detroit as two of its next markets for expansion.
The league announced that these two cities and Philadelphia are getting WNBA teams in late 2030 in a message earlier this week, prompting Cunningham to question whether players wanted cities to be elected to expand.
“I don’t know how excited people are going to Detroit or [Cleveland]”Telled Cunningham journalists on July 1st.
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June 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever -vagt Sophie Cunningham (8) runs back up the field during the game against Dallas Wings in the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Preferred Pictures)
Cunningham clarified her comments while talking to journalists on Thursday, defending “Working with Blue Collar” associated with Cleveland and Detroit.
“First of all, I know WNBA’s story. I know both of these cities have had teams before and they got us where we are, so I’m grateful for that,” she said. “Everything I really got on was Broadway, the off-Court lifestyle, and that’s why I think it’s really exciting. I think Miami’s exciting. That’s all I got.”
“I think it would be fun to get some teams outside the NBA market … I think people were completely wrong reading the situation. I would never talk down to the middle class, work with blue collar. That’s where I come from Missouri. I got in Indiana, and that’s why I’m a little to suggest that Broadway Sounds fun, Miami sounds fun.
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Cunningham also approached the setback for her comments.
“The people who hype you up will be the same people pushing you down. And then for me, I’m always just kind of stay right here in the middle. I think it was my personal opinion,” she said.
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers.
ONE Five-part feature series By Cunningham’s Alma Mater, University of Missouri, told his family’s southern farm roots.
Injured Indiana Fever -vagt Sophie Cunningham (8) and Guard Caitlin Clark (22) respond from the bench during the first half of a WNBA game against Chicago Sky in the United Center. (Kamil Krzaczynski-IMAGN images)
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 to get out to the yard to help. We found out how we work hard and work together. It made us go into yard.”
Cunningham even had a special name for his farmer grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”
However, Cunningham suggested glitzian markets for WNBA expansion in its original criticism and pointed to Miami and Kansas City.
“Like, where will they play? Where are they going to be happy to play and draw fans? I think Miami would have been a big one. Everyone loves Florida. Nashville is a fantastic city. Kansas City – Great opportunity. There is a huge arena in the center that no one uses,” Cunningham said. “I’m not so sure what the thought process is there.
May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, in; Indiana Fever -vagt Sophie Cunningham (8) is for a photo on Saturday, May 17, 2025, before a game between Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (GRACE SMITH-PREPARED PICTURES VIA INDOSTAR)
“At the end of the day you do not want to expand our league too quickly. We do not want teams to dominate and some that are not. It is a tough situation but man I do not know how excited people should go to Detroit or [Cleveland]”
