Sophie Cunningham welcomes veterans
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham earned praise from fans after the team highlighted her season-long efforts to welcome veterans to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Selected guests receive premium seats and an exclusive pregame meet-and-greet with Cunningham.
The Fever shared photos from Cunningham Corner on September 3, 2026, showing her meeting veterans before games. One fan called Cunningham a class act, while others thanked her for supporting service members.
Sophie Cunningham offers premium seats
Cunningham Corner gives selected veterans a special Indiana Fever game experience centered on recognition. The program includes premium seating at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, courtesy of Gainbridge, plus an exclusive pregame meet-and-greet with Cunningham.
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection because the Fever receives a high volume of requests. Indiana contacts chosen applicants directly after reviewing submissions for the official Cunningham Corner program.
Sophie Cunningham draws fan praise
Fan praise followed Indiana’s September 3 post featuring Cunningham with veterans during the season. Comments thanked her for supporting service members and praised the way she interacts with people away from competition.
One response described Cunningham as a class act and also recognized her basketball ability. Other comments called the program awesome, thanked the Fever for highlighting her work, and requested a long-term contract.
Sophie Cunningham thrives as reserve
Cunningham has spent most of 2026 in a reserve role for Indiana, appearing in 39 games with three starts. She averages 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
She also averages 22.7 minutes and has made 63 shots from beyond the arc while converting 43.4% of those attempts. That shooting gives Indiana reliable perimeter scoring from a mostly reserve role.
Sophie Cunningham makes award case
Cunningham’s efficiency supports Indiana’s case for Sixth Player of the Year consideration. She is shooting 46.9% from the field, 43.4% from beyond the arc, and 87.5% at the free-throw line.
Those figures come across 39 appearances and 884 total minutes, with Cunningham scoring 322 points. Her effective field-goal rate stands at 62.0%, reflecting the added value of made 3-pointers offensively.
Sophie Cunningham anchors bench unit
Indiana has used Cunningham mainly behind a starting group led by Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull. Cunningham has started three times, leaving 36 appearances from the bench.
That role fits the Sixth Player discussion because most of Cunningham’s production comes as a reserve. Indiana has publicly promoted her for consideration while emphasizing the energy she provides off the bench.
Sophie Cunningham arrived from Phoenix
Cunningham joined Indiana from Phoenix in a four-team trade completed on January 31, 2025. The move ended six seasons with the Mercury, where she appeared in 182 regular-season games before joining the Fever.
Phoenix selected Cunningham with the 13th pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft after her college career at Missouri. She arrived in Indiana with extensive league experience and a proven perimeter-shooting record.
Sophie Cunningham contributed in 2025
Cunningham’s first Indiana season ended with 257 points across 30 regular-season appearances in 2025. Her scoring total ranked fifth on the Fever despite her playing only 30 games during the campaign.
She scored 13 points in the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Championship, the second-highest total for Indiana behind Natasha Howard’s 16. The Fever defeated Minnesota 74-59 to win the competition for the first time.
Sophie Cunningham heads toward playoffs
Indiana reached the 2026 World Cup break with a 26-14 record and a confirmed playoff berth. The Fever had four regular-season games remaining before the WNBA postseason was scheduled to begin September 27.
The final stretch was scheduled to start September 18 in Toronto, followed by home games against Washington and Minnesota. Indiana was set to close the regular season at Minnesota on September 24.
Sophie Cunningham sits out World Cup
Cunningham is not on the United States roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. Indiana has nearly three weeks between its August 28 game and September 18 return.
Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston are representing the United States during the tournament. The World Cup ends September 13, while Indiana’s first game after the break is scheduled for September 18 at Toronto.
Fun fact: At age five, Cunningham was so big for her soccer team that her family carried her birth certificate to games to prove her age.
Sophie Cunningham supports top offense
The Fever entered the break averaging 97.0 points per game through 40 contests, one of the league’s top scoring marks. Indiana also held a 117.9 offensive rating, the best figure in the WNBA.
Cunningham contributes to that offense alongside Mitchell, Clark, and Boston. Her 322 points rank fourth in Indiana, while 63 made 3-pointers provide consistent perimeter spacing and scoring.
Sophie Cunningham has long community record
Cunningham’s community work began well before Cunningham Corner. During her time at the University of Missouri, she participated in youth basketball clinics, supported a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser, and visited the University of Missouri Children’s Hospital.
She also co-founded the Sophie Cunningham Classic, an annual girls’ basketball showcase in Missouri. Her current Cunningham Corner initiative continues that broader record of community involvement by recognizing veterans at Fever games.
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Sophie Cunningham is scheduled to return
A fan used the class act description after Indiana highlighted Cunningham’s meetings with veterans. Cunningham Corner provides selected guests with premium seats and an exclusive pregame meet-and-greet at Gainbridge Fieldhouse before games.
Indiana is scheduled to return to Toronto on September 18, with four regular-season games remaining. Cunningham’s veteran outreach has added an off-court community-service element to her second season with the Fever.
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Sophie Cunningham’s work with veterans has drawn praise beyond her role with the Indiana Fever. Do community efforts like Cunningham Corner change how you view professional athletes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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