Sophie Cunningham has become one of the WNBA’s most well-known players in 2026. The Indiana Fever guard, who played collegiately at the University of Missouri, has become quite the talking point, after her ESPN profile that went viral. Cunningham, among other things, criticized transgender athletes in women’s sports.
In the ESPN article, Cunningham said that she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham told reporters. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
On the court, Cunningham is a decent role player. She’s averaging 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. She’s shooting 44.1 percent from the 3-point line. She’s certainly a valuable player off of the bench in Indiana.
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But Cunningham is on an expiring contract. She signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with Indiana for the 2026 season.
What will her free agency market look like in 2027?
It’s going to be fascinating to see.
WNBA fans think Cunningham could be ousted from league
While many agree with what Cunningham said, her comments have also caused quite the firestorm surrounding the league. Protests have been taking place outside of arenas. Former NBA big man Enes Kanter got ejected from Sunday night’s Fever at Sky game.
If the Fever don’t re-sign her this offseason, is another team going to sign up for the Sophie Cunningham show this winter? Fair or unfair, some teams might not want to deal with that kind of distraction.
The same thing happened to guys like Colin Kaepernick and Tim Tebow. Regardless of their play on the field, teams ultimately decided that they didn’t want to deal with what they brought off-of-the-field.
“Before the trans comments Sophie probably had job security in this league based on her shooting. Post comments and everything it’s led to I’m not sure the juice is worth the squeeze for any franchise next season. Her play has nosedived and she’s brought a negative circus,” one fan wrote.
“She might get blackballed next year,” one fan added.
Cunningham, who turned 30 earlier this month, should have several more years of basketball left in her.
But will the WNBA let her play?
