Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever addressed contract speculation, expressing frustration over her one-year deal after an injury. She emphasized her desire to win and the importance of staying motivated.
Key points
Sophie Cunningham re-signed with the Indiana Fever for one year
Cunningham expressed frustration over her contract after an injury
She emphasized her desire to win and stay motivated
On April 12, the Fever re-signed Cunningham to a one-year deal. The veteran guard recently expressed some frustration about her contract during an episode of her "Show Me Something" podcast. She explained it was a tough situation because she was coming off an injury after the 2025 season and hadn't been in front of many teams.
According to Cunningham, when you don't connect with the team, they start to doubt whether you can still produce. Moreover, Cunningham admitted the deal she received from Indiana wasn't what she was expecting.
"I'm not even gonna lie to you," Cunningham said. "That was a little kind of frustrating because I'm someone who like ― I kinda shoot it straight, where if I wasn't feeling good or like I was hesitant, I think I would have said something and been honest because I'm just at the point in my career where I just wanna win. Like I just wanna win.
"So I'm not going to put my ego and everything in front of things. ... I think this was a great wakeup call to not get comfortable. I think it kind of lit a fire under my ass even more."
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
Q&A
What did Sophie Cunningham say about her contract with the Fever?
Sophie Cunningham expressed frustration over her one-year deal, stating it wasn't what she expected and highlighted the challenges after her injury.
Why was Cunningham frustrated with her contract situation?
Cunningham was frustrated because she felt the deal did not reflect her abilities, especially after coming off an injury and not being able to showcase her skills to other teams.
How did Cunningham respond to the speculation about her contract?
Cunningham shut down speculation by stating she is not mad and emphasized her focus on winning rather than letting her ego affect her performance.
What impact did Cunningham's contract situation have on her mindset?
Cunningham described her contract situation as a wakeup call, motivating her to stay focused and not become complacent in her career.
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However, Cunningham's comments did little to quell the chatter around her contract. Many fans online assumed Cunningham's revelation meant she wasn't happy with her new deal. On April 20, she shut down the speculation surrounding her contract.
"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!!"
