WNBA star Sophie Cunningham calls new contract ‘frustrating’

Article content

Most people wouldn’t be too upset about getting their salary bumped up by more than 600%, but Sophie Cunningham isn’t like most people.

Article content

The WNBA star recently signed a new contract with the Indiana Fever but was left a bit frustrated with the deal, she says.

Article content

Article content

Cunningham and the Fever agreed to a one-year, $665,000 US contract on Sunday, a significant raise over her previous reported salary of $100,000 on an extension signed prior to the 2025 season.

The seven-year WNBA veteran opened up about her freshly inked contract during the latest episode of her Show Me Something podcast.

During the pod, co-host West Wilson asked the Fever guard how she felt about the contract, specifically if she felt it was better than she initially thought it would be thanks to the league’s new CBA.

However, Cunningham almost immediately shook her head no.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

“Nope? OK, sorry,” Wilson said.

What did Cunningham say?

“It’s OK! No, it’s fine. It’s tough, because I came off an injury, and I haven’t been in front of any teams,” Cunningham said. “I had a lot going on this off-season. I was fully cleared, they had all the doctors, they had the numbers and everything. But if you don’t get in front of these people, it’s like, ‘Hey, are you actually good?’

Article content

Article content

Article content

“I’m not even gonna lie to you, though, it’s a little, kind of, frustrating. Because I’m someone who, I kind of shoot it straight. If I wasn’t feeling good or 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 want to win. I just want to win. And so I’m not going to put my ego in front of things. And I know it is a business, but I just think I’m wired a little differently. I don’t know. I just want to win.”

Cunningham also said that the contract is a “great wakeup call” and is motivating her to return even stronger after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year.

“I think it kind of lit a fire under my ass even more,” she said. “At the end of the day, I’m coming back from a major (injury). Like, it was (a torn) MCL. So I feel good. I’m shooting the ball well, I’m mentally in a great spot.”

How did Cunningham respond to backlash?

However, while her comments led many to believe that Cunningham — a teammate and friend of Caitlin Clark — was put off by the money aspect of her new contract, it’s actually the term that got caused the frustration.

Article content

“I’m gonna shut this down right now,” she posted on X in reply to a story about her comments. “I’m not mad about the money … I just wanted more years because I love it here.

Article content

“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!!”

Cunningham has averaged 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game across her seven WNBA seasons.

She played in 30 games for the Fever last year – her first season in Indiana after starting her career with the Phoenix Mercury in 2019 – before suffering a torn MCL.

She is set to be featured in this year’s SI Swimsuit edition and posted several pictures on Instagram from her photoshoot in Florida.

Article content