The Indiana Fever are chasing another Commissioner’s Cup title, but Sophie Cunningham wants everyone to know one thing before the tournament begins: the payday isn’t quite what fans think.

As Indiana prepares to open Commissioner’s Cup play against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, Cunningham was asked about the significance of the in-season tournament. While she acknowledged the added motivation that comes with competing for a cash prize, she couldn’t resist correcting one common misconception. Many fans have pointed to last year’s $500,000 prize pool and assumed every Fever player pocketed roughly $30,000 after Indiana captured the title.

According to Cunningham, that’s not exactly how it worked.

“Yeah, I think it’s something to look forward to, a goal to reach that’s in season,” Cunningham told reporters. “I think that’s the whole point: a little bit more money for everybody, which is nice.”

Then came the reality check.

“It’s not $30K, by the way, if anyone’s wondering, after taxes.”

The comment immediately caught attention because it offered a glimpse into the financial reality behind one of the WNBA’s biggest in-season rewards.

Cunningham keeps it real about Commissioner’s Cup motivation

While Cunningham joked about the prize money, she made it clear the Commissioner’s Cup remains an important goal for the Fever. The veteran guard said the tournament gives players something extra to compete for during the grind of a long season.

“But I do think that it gives you something positive to look forward to and work toward, and sometimes you need that in-season motivation,” Cunningham said.

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That motivation could be especially important for Indiana right now. The Fever enter Thursday’s matchup against Atlanta with a 4-4 record and riding a two-game losing streak. Expectations were sky-high entering the season after Indiana’s Commissioner’s Cup championship run last year, but the start of 2026 has been far from smooth.

Fever searching for a spark

Despite strong production from stars Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, consistency has been difficult to find. Indiana has shown flashes of being one of the league’s most dangerous teams, but the Fever have struggled to get reliable contributions throughout the rotation. Those issues have contributed to an uneven first month of the season and raised questions about how quickly the team can regain its championship form.

A strong Commissioner’s Cup showing could help change the narrative. The Atlanta Dream currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, making Thursday’s matchup one of Indiana’s biggest tests of the season so far. A victory would not only kick off the Fever’s title defense in style, but could also provide the momentum they desperately need.

And if Indiana does manage to win the Commissioner’s Cup again? Cunningham already knows the first lesson for anyone counting the prize money.

Don’t forget about taxes.

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