INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox would not directly answer questions about Sophie Cunningham’s recent complaints about her one-year contract. But she did acknowledge the impact of the new collective bargaining agreement on the Fever’s roster construction.
Speaking at the team’s annual media day Wednesday, Cox told reporters that she has “look long term” when constructing their roster, citing how the CBA’s new “EPIC” contract has directly impacted the team.
“We’ve got some new wrinkles in the CBA that we have to account for,” Cox said. “Obviously, Aliyah is moving into her EPIC deal. So we just want to be really smart in how we’re thinking about the future and obviously making us the best we can be this season.”
The EPIC rule, which stands for Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract, allows players entering their fourth year to renegotiate their rookie contracts to earn max or supermax deals worth 20% of the salary cap. Players who made an All-WNBA team in their first three seasons are eligible for a max deal, while those who win MVP can sign a supermax.
The EPIC provision is what Fever center Aliyah Boston used to sign a WNBA-record four-year, $6.3 million deal last week. Under the same rule, Caitlin Clark will qualify for the max contract next summer after making All-WNBA first team in her rookie season. She could realistically make a run at MVP this year, which means the team could have as much as 40% of their cap tied to their two stars in 2027.
And they’ll still have to account for Kelsey Mitchell, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million supermax deal after she was given the core designation earlier this month.
Cox’s comments come days after Cunningham said on her podcast that she was frustrated about the one-year, $665,000 contract she signed. The veteran guard later said that her gripes were not about the money, but instead the length of her deal.
“I’m gonna shut this down right now. I’m not mad about the money,” Cunningham later wrote. “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!!”
She told reporters Tuesday that she received offers elsewhere that were for multiple years, but decided to stay in Indiana. She said Wednesday that she chose to return because of her camaraderie with her Fever teammates.
“For me, my main focus was just get to a team that embraces me,” Cunningham said. “I’m so happy to be back here in Indiana.”
Cunningham, 29, joined the Fever in 2025 after six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. She is coming off a torn MCL injury that she sustained in August. She averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 43% from three in 30 games last year.
