A recent article by Candace Buckner in The Athletic sparked debate over whether the Indiana Fever should re-sign Sophie Cunningham for the next season. The piece suggested parting ways with Cunningham, citing her as a distraction amid Caitlin Clark’s rise to prominence.
In response, Cunningham addressed the article on the “No Hesitation” podcast with co-host Drew Hanlen. Hanlen criticized the article, describing it as a “hate piece,” and highlighted Cunningham’s value as a bench player, noting her performance last season.
Cunningham expressed her indifference to the article’s criticism, stating, “I don’t even care what anyone says about me anymore because I’ve said this so many times, ‘If you’re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate.'” She emphasized her commitment to being true to herself and contributing to the team beyond the stat sheet.
Previously, Cunningham faced backlash for her comments supporting the ban on transgender women in female sports. She clarified her stance, stating, “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that. I think that I am here to extend love.'”
Buckner’s article argued that moving on from Cunningham could help the Fever avoid controversies and focus on WNBA competition. Potential new teams for Cunningham included the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.
Last season, Cunningham averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Hanlen praised her as one of the top five bench scorers and 3-point shooters in the WNBA. The Fever’s decision on Cunningham remains pending as they plan around key players like Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.
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