Sophie Cunningham may be finding a new team soon!
According to rumors, the WNBA star she might “released” by Indiana Fever at the end of the season. She has been making headlines recently, especially due to the comments she made in July about protecting young girls from competing against biological males in women’s sports.
During an interview with ESPN, Cunningham talked about her views on trans women in women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she told the publication. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Cunningham was also asked about her political views, which she described as “very much in the middle.”
“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume,” she explained.
Sophie Cunningham Says Separating Trans Athletes From Women/Girls In Sports Is ‘Common Sense’
The basketball star then described her views as “common sense” in a different interview via The Athletic.
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
She also noted that she does not “dislike anyone,” adding that there is “room to love everyone.” However, this doesn’t mean she’s backing down on her opinion.
“But I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected,” she continued. “And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”
Some People Blame Sophie Cunningham For The Chaos
Cunningham’s statement about trans athletes in women’s sports have sparked backlash and support. Some people have shown their support to the Fever guard, with several using her face and image during rallies at WNBA games. However, others who are pro trans have spoken out against Cunningham. Some even blamed her for the Enes Kanter Freedom and Natasha Cloud incident at a Fever game.
“This league has let Sophie Cunningham destroy what was supposed to be an inclusive environment, but Cloud’s willingness to fight against that is refreshing,” wrote a fan on X.
Freedom was removed from Sunday’s game after he getting confronted by Sky guard Natasha Cloud sometime in the third quarter. Sitting along the baseline, he wore a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
After Cloud scored with 1:22 left in the third, she did a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning around and walking in Freedom’s direction.
She started yelling and pointing at the human rights activist while approaching him. Freedom stood and held his arms out, stepping onto the court as security and a handful of Cloud’s teammates moved in between the two.
Will The Fever Replace Sophie Cunningham On Their Roster?
In recent days, several accounts on X have hinted that she is going to be “released” by the Fever after the 2026 season is over, citing that the news came from “WNBA sources.”
The rumors of her release had mixed reactions from WNBA fans. “No way. She fills too many seats. And teams need her 3’s and defense,” noted one user, while another remarked, “There’s only 4 WNBA players I would recognize because they’re talked about or been in the news. Caitlyn Clark, Angel Reese, Brittney Griner, and Sophie Cunningham. I wouldn’t recognize the best player Aja Wilson if she was standing in front of me. She’s top 2 in jersey sales along with CC. Teams would be stupid to not want one of the most popular players in the league on their team. No publicity is bad publicity.”
A different person added, “She averages 8 points a game and couldn’t defend a toddler so there’s that.”
The fourth fan stated, “She’s on a ONE YEAR CONTRACT for max money… any speculation about her future with the team or any team is tampering and a violation of every CBA in all sports leagues. This speculation is nonsense click bait!”
Sophie Cunningham’s Contract With Fever Explained
In April 2026, the Fever agreed a one-year contract with Cunningham. According to Spotrac, the deal is worth $665,000. Next year, when Cunningham’s contract with her current team is up, she is listed as a “UFA” (unrestricted free agent) on their site.
According to the WNBA, “a UFA is a player who can negotiate with any team during the free agency period without hindrance.”
