Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham shared her thoughts on the future of the WNBA, amid ongoing negotiations between the league and players’ union over the College Bargaining Agreement
Caitlin Clark was joined by teammates Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham at The Annika pro-am on Wednesday(Image: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Veteran guard Sophie Cunningham didn’t hold back when discussing the future of the WNBA, as the league remains locked in negotiations with the players’ union over the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Coming off a season-ending MCL injury and now a free agent, Cunningham offered one of the most candid evaluations yet of the league’s current position and potential direction.
The 29 year old was speaking with Front Office Sports at a Manhattan sports bar, following an LPGA event where she served as Caitlin Clark’s caddy. She was dealt to the Indiana Fever for the 2025 campaign, and posted 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds this season before going down with injury.
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“There is a lot of uncertainty,” Cunningham stated frankly. “With CBA, with the money, if we’re even going to have a league next year. And then if people want to come back, we’re trying to keep our core together.
“But, you know, when money is waved in people’s faces, you just never know. And so, if we do, I think that we just have to stay healthy. We have to keep building, day by day. And I think we have a good shot.”, reports the Mirror US.
When questioned about her own future with the Fever, she acknowledged the uncertainty remains.
Sophie Cunningham spoke candidly about the WNBA’s future(Image: Getty)
“You know, we’re all still keeping in touch, but obviously there’s not a lot. There’s really not a lot to talk about on there and on our end until there’s a new CBA. And I think that’s how it is across the league.”
Cunningham’s main concern revolves around the stalled CBA negotiations between players and league executives.
“I think the last meeting was about two weeks ago,” she shared. “I know our execs are talking with their people every single day. I don’t think there’s been much movement. I think at least there’s communication. So that’s the biggest thing for us.”
These negotiations hold significant implications: salaries, revenue-sharing, and even the basic sustainability of the league over the next season hang in the balance.
Sophie Cunningham played one season with the Indiana Fever before becoming an unrestricted free agent(Image: Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Cunningham questioned the long-term model: “It sounds good and they can always wave a big number in your face. But what happens when the business continues to go up? Does that mean our salaries are going to continue to go up, or will they stay the same? And I think that’s been our biggest thing, revenue share.”
She also commented on the emergence of alternative opportunities such as “Project B,” a newly announced start-up women’s basketball league offering multi-million-dollar contracts.
“I don’t know too much about it. You know, you see stuff on social media, but I also know how social media goes. So you got to take it with a grain of salt. But, you know, if people are going to be paying you multi-million dollar deals, why would you not?” she said.
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