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The Indiana Fever star, Sophie Cunningham, was criticized for comments on the WNBA which chose Cleveland and Detroit as two of its next expansion markets.
The league has announced that these two cities and Philadelphia will obtain WNBA teams by the end of 2030 in an announcement earlier this week, which prompted Cunningham to wonder if the players wanted these cities to be chosen for expansion.
“I don’t know how excited people are to go to Detroit or [Cleveland]Said Cunningham to journalists on July 1.
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June 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, United States; The Indiana Cunningham (8) fever guard (8) returns to the field during the Dallas wings at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn images)
Cunningham clarified his comments while addressing journalists on Thursday and defended the “blue passes” associated with Cleveland and Detroit.
“First of all, I know the history of the WNBA. I know that these two cities have already had teams before, and they have had where we are, so I am grateful,” she said. “All I was really going to come was Broadway, the style of life off the field and so I think it’s really intriguing. I think Miami is intriguing. That’s all I wanted.”
“I think it would be fun to get teams outside the NBA market … I think people have completely read the situation badly. I would never talk about middle class and blue passes. This is where I come.
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Cunningham also discussed the backlash to his comments.
“The people who exhaust you will be the same people who push you.
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers.
A series of functionalities in five parts Through the Alma Mater of Cunningham, the University of Missouri, said the roots of the southern farm of his family.
The Wounded Indiana Cunning of Indiana Cunningham (8) and the Caitlin Clark (22) fever (22) reacts from the bench during the first half of a WNBA match against the Chicago sky in United Center. (Images Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn)
Cunningham learned to ride a horse and driven eighty in the family’s grain silos.
“A large part of our success dates back to what we have learned here,” said Cunningham, working on the farm. “We loved going out on the farm to help. We discovered how to work hard and work together. It made us hard.”
Cunningham even had a special name for his farmers’ grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”
However, Cunningham suggested Glitz Plus markets for the expansion of WNBA in its initial criticisms, pointing to Miami and Kansas City.
“For example, where do they want to play? Where are they going to be excited to play and draw fans? I think Miami would have been great. Everyone loves Florida. Nashville is an incredible city. Kansas City-An incredible opportunity. There is an enormous city center to an arena that no one uses,” said Cunningham. “I do not know what the process of reflection is.
May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, in; The Indiana Sophie Cunningham (8) fever custody poses for a photo on Saturday May 17, 2025, before a match between Indiana fever and Chicago sky in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Images Grace Smith-Imagn via Indystar)
“In the end, you do not want to extend our league too quickly. We do not want the teams to dominate completely and some who are not. It is a difficult situation, but, guy, I do not know how excited people are in Detroit or [Cleveland]. “”
