Indiana Fever face Cunningham decision
The Indiana Fever entered the 2026 offseason with Sophie Cunningham eligible for unrestricted free agency after her one-year contract concluded. The 30-year-old guard completed her second season there when the playoff run ended on October 1.
Columnist Candace Buckner argued on October 6 that Indiana should move on from Cunningham. Her opinion centered on reducing outside attention on a roster already under a national spotlight because of guard Caitlin Clark.
Candace Buckner urges Indiana split
Candace Buckner argued that Cunningham brings too much outside attention to a team already closely followed because of Clark. The column presented separation as the better path if Indiana wants basketball to remain its central focus.
The argument represented Buckner’s opinion rather than an Indiana Fever decision. Team officials had not announced a roster move involving Cunningham, and the organization entered the offseason with her unrestricted free agency unresolved.
Amber Cox backs Cunningham’s value
Indiana Fever General Manager Amber Cox addressed Cunningham during the October 3 exit interviews. She said outside attention would not influence her evaluation and described the guard as productive and valuable inside the locker room.
Cox also praised Cunningham’s experience and ability to connect teammates. She confirmed Cunningham is an unrestricted free agent and said Indiana expects offseason contract conversations, stopping short of promising that a new deal will follow.
Sophie Cunningham delivers efficient year
Sophie Cunningham played 43 regular-season games for Indiana in 2026, including three starts, while averaging 22.2 minutes. She produced 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while primarily filling a reserve-heavy Fever role.
Cunningham also delivered efficient perimeter scoring. She made 46% of her field-goal attempts and 41.9% from three-point range, giving Indiana an outside option during a season in which the guard consistently carried limited offensive usage.
Indiana Fever acquired Cunningham in 2025
Indiana acquired Sophie Cunningham from Phoenix in a four-team transaction announced in February 2025. During her first Fever season that year, she appeared in 30 games, made 13 starts, and averaged 8.6 points per contest.
That first Indiana campaign ended early because of a right-knee injury. Cunningham still scored 257 points during the regular season, ranking fifth on the team despite playing fewer games than many of her available teammates.
Sophie Cunningham helped win Cup title
Sophie Cunningham contributed 13 points when Indiana defeated Minnesota 74-59 in the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup championship. Her total ranked second for the Fever as the franchise secured its first title in the competition that season.
The performance gave Cunningham an early place in Indiana’s recent success before her season ended later that summer. She returned for 2026 on a one-year contract, extending her Fever tenure into a second campaign there.
Indiana Fever led league in scoring
Indiana Fever led the WNBA in scoring during the 2026 season at 96.0 points per game across 44 contests. That offense featured Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston as the team’s three highest scorers.
Cunningham supported that attack by making 67 three-pointers on 160 attempts across 956 regular-season minutes during 2026 play. Those totals show how Indiana used her primarily as a perimeter option rather than a high-volume scorer.
Indiana Fever exited in first round
The Indiana Fever finished the 2026 regular season at 28-16 and entered the playoffs as the sixth seed. The club faced Las Vegas in the opening round and extended the best-of-three series to a deciding game.
Las Vegas won the series 2-1, ending Indiana’s season on October 1. The result set the Fever into an offseason focused on contract decisions, roster construction, and decisions regarding several established rotation players for 2027.
Indiana Fever drew record audience
The Indiana Fever drew one of the WNBA’s largest television audiences of 2026 when its August 23 game against Chicago averaged 3.31 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, peaking at 3.82 million during the broadcast.
That broadcast became the most-watched WNBA regular-season game since the league’s opening weekend in 1997. An ESPN matchup between Indiana and Atlanta also averaged 2.58 million viewers nationally that season, reinforcing the Fever’s broad reach.
Sophie Cunningham expands media role
Sophie Cunningham expanded her media work during 2026 while continuing to play for Indiana. USA Network added her as a WNBA studio contributor, creating an additional role that fit around her responsibilities with the Fever.
In September, Cunningham also launched No Hesitation with player-development coach Drew Hanlen through The Volume. The weekly program covers WNBA and NBA storylines, matchups, and personalities, giving her another established platform beyond her on-court work.
Fun fact: Sophie Cunningham’s Mizzou roots run deep: her sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, and grandfather all competed athletically for Missouri.
Indiana Fever face wider roster choices
The Indiana Fever faces more than one contract decision during the offseason. Kelsey Mitchell also reached free agency after averaging 24.7 points in 2026, making her future another major roster question for team leadership as planning continues.
Exit interviews also included discussion of a possible Caitlin Clark extension and further roster upgrades. Those issues give Indiana several personnel priorities beyond Cunningham as management prepares for another season around its established core group.
WNBA free agency calendar changed
WNBA free agency followed a revised calendar in 2026 after the collective bargaining agreement. The designation period opened on April 6, negotiations began two days later, and players could officially sign contracts starting on April 11.
The agreement runs through 2032, while the regular season expands from 44 games to 50 beginning in 2027. Additional schedule information and key dates for the following campaign remained unannounced as teams entered offseason planning.
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Sophie Cunningham brings veteran résumé
Sophie Cunningham spent her first 6 WNBA seasons with Phoenix, appearing in 182 regular-season games before joining Indiana. During that stretch, she scored 1,409 points and made 254 three-pointers, averaging 7.7 points per game.
Cunningham heads toward unrestricted free agency after 8 WNBA seasons, with 255 regular-season appearances across Phoenix and Indiana. Through 2026, she has averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 38% from three-point range.
Candace Parker did not hold back when discussing Caitlin Clark against the Aces. Explore what she said and why her criticism stood out during the broadcast.
Should the Indiana Fever keep Sophie Cunningham for her on-court value, or would a different direction better serve the roster? Like the post and share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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