Sophie Cunningham Isn’t Sure the WNBA Will Exist Next Year

Free agent guard Sophie Cunningham has become well known for her candor. 

Whether it’s on the court in the face of opponents or dishing out hot takes on her podcast “Show Me Something,” Cunningham has earned a reputation as one of the WNBA’s most unabashed. Cunningham was traded to the Indiana Fever ahead of the 2025 season after spending the first six of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. She averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 2025 before suffering a season-ending MCL tear in August. 

Fresh off an LPGA appearance as teammate Caitlin Clark’s caddy, Cunningham spoke with Front Office Sports at a lower Manhattan sports bar on the current state of CBA negotiations, her thoughts on the upstart basketball league known as “Project B,” and how the WNBA’s increased exposure has led to more lucrative brand deals off the court.

Front Office Sports:  When you consider the Fever and potentially returning, what is missing from that roster to make a Finals run? 

SC: Honestly, I think the missing piece is just being healthy. I think that’s the name of the game. And even when we weren’t healthy, we were a couple calls away from making it to the Finals. And so, for us, I think just the amount of adversity that we had through that we went through this past year, I think it’s setting us up.

There is a lot of uncertainty, like you said, with CBA, with the money, if we’re even going to have a league next year. And then if people want to come back, we’re trying to keep our core together. But, you know, when money is waved in people’s faces, you just never know. And so, if we do, I think that we just have to stay healthy. We have to keep building, day by day. And I think we have a good shot.

FOS: What are your feelings as far as the likelihood that you’re back with the Fever next year?

SC: You know, we’re all still keeping in touch, but obviously there’s not a lot. There’s really not a lot to talk about on there and on our end until there’s a new CBA. And I think that’s how it is across the league. 

FOS: Let’s get into that. Where do negotiations stand as of now? 

SC: I think the last meeting was about two weeks ago. I know our execs are talking with their people every single day. I don’t think there’s been much movement. I think at least there’s communication. So that’s the biggest thing for us. But, normally we don’t have meetings unless something big is happening or if they need to update us on what they’re talking about.

And so it’s been two weeks and we haven’t had one. So I’m not so sure where they’re at. But for us players, I think we’re standing strong on what we want.

FOS: One of those things is obviously improved salaries. And then the other is, a revenue sharing structure that’s similar to other leagues.

I’ve talked to a number of sources that said one of the proposals included a supermax salary of $850,000 being a max salary. What in your mind is the ideal supermax salary? 

SC: You know, I think the people who are knowing the exact numbers are who you probably should be talking to.

It sounds good and they can always wave a big number in your face. But what happens when the business continues to go up? Does that mean that our salaries are going to continue to go up, or will they stay the same? And I think that’s been our biggest thing, revenue share.

FOS: One of the things that’s opened up because of the W’s inability to pay players is other leagues popping up—Unrivaled, now we see Project B offering multi-million dollar deals. Where do you stand on Project B? Is that a league that you’d want to play for?

SC: I don’t know too much about it. You know, you see stuff on social media, but I also know how social media goes. So you got to take it with a grain of salt. But, you know, if people are going to be paying you multi-million dollar deals, why would you not? 

FOS: Your deal with Sun Cruiser is just one of the things you’re doing off the court. How have those off-court opportunities evolved from the time you were a rookie until now? 

SC: Night and day. Let me tell you, this is the fun stuff that you get to do. And I love competing at a high level. In-season is when I feel like my best and most authentic self. But because of the W and where it’s at and the way that people want to be a part of women’s sports nowadays, you do get to work with, like, authentic, awesome brands that are chill, relaxing.

You see the pressures and how crazy our lifestyle is in season. And you know, for me I’m all about the pool. I want to be at the pool. I want to be at the lake. I want to be on a beach. I want to be with my friends, hanging out, drinking. And Sun Cruiser does exactly that. And so when they came to me, I said, ‘say less’, sign me up. I don’t care what the money looks like. Give me that drink.