The reason behind rare WNBA jersey swaps
Jersey swaps are a familiar postgame tradition in basketball, but they are not as common in the WNBA. Sophie Cunningham recently offered an inside look at why players may not always have a jersey to exchange.
Her comments point to a surprising difference in how uniforms are supplied. They also raise questions about what happens behind the scenes after the final whistle.
Her comments came from a fan question
The discussion began when a listener asked whether WNBA players swap jerseys like NBA players. Cunningham answered directly, explaining that limited jersey quantities make the practice difficult.
The exchange was published during the Show Me Something episode featuring Cunningham and West Wilson. The episode was released on October 17, 2025, according to its podcast listing.
Jersey swaps are not a WNBA requirement
A jersey swap is a postgame exchange between opposing players, but it is not required by WNBA rules. The league’s official rule book establishes uniform requirements without mandating that players exchange jerseys afterward.
Players can participate when circumstances allow, but a swap is not part of the formal game procedure. Cunningham’s explanation therefore concerns equipment availability rather than a league rule banning exchanges.
WNBA uniforms are supplied for competition
The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement requires players to wear apparel supplied by their team or the WNBA during league competitions, practices, and press conferences. The 2026 agreement contains specific apparel requirements governing what players may wear in those settings.
Those provisions explain the league’s apparel requirements, while Cunningham’s comments address the number of jerseys available to players rather than permission to wear different uniforms.
Cunningham joined Indiana in 2025
Cunningham currently plays guard for the Indiana Fever and entered the 2026 season with seven years of WNBA experience. The league lists her as 6-foot-1 and records Missouri as her college.
Indiana acquired Cunningham from the Phoenix Mercury in a four-team trade announced January 31, 2025. She had spent six seasons with Phoenix before joining the Fever.
Her Fever role has continued into 2026
Cunningham remains on Indiana’s 2026 roster as the season reaches its closing stretch. The Fever’s official roster lists her as No. 8, with her position recorded as guard.
The WNBA’s player page lists Cunningham with career averages of 7.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. The same page lists her as having 7 years of WNBA experience.
Indiana has a bigger 2026 storyline
The Fever are playing their 2026 season during the WNBA’s 30th season. Indiana is one of 15 teams competing in a 44-game regular season following the league’s expansion to include Toronto and Portland.
The Fever’s current roster also includes Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and other players. Indiana’s regular season runs through September 24 before the 2026 playoffs begin on September 27.
The league is changing its player experience
The WNBA and WNBPA completed a new collective bargaining agreement in 2026. The seven-year agreement runs from the 2026 season through 2032 and includes changes involving salaries, benefits, facilities, travel, and roster structures.
The agreement raises the 2026 salary cap to $7 million from $1.5 million in 2025. It also includes revenue sharing and increased standards for player facilities and support.
Interesting fact: Cunningham joined the Indiana Fever in 2025. She arrived after spending the first six seasons of her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury, giving her experience in two different WNBA organizations.
More games are coming in future seasons
The new labor agreement also changes the league’s future schedule. Regular-season schedules are set to increase to as many as 50 games in 2027 and 2028, followed by as many as 52 games from 2029 through 2032.
The 2026 season remains at 44 games per team. That structure provides the league with a baseline before the planned increases in the schedule take effect.
Interesting fact: Cunningham has previously discussed Indiana’s unique uniforms, including its Stranger Things-inspired design, showing that players can have multiple uniform styles even though their supply of individual game jerseys may be limited.
Uniform design is expanding in 2026
The WNBA introduced Nike Rebel Edition uniforms for all 15 teams during the 2026 season. The new designs complement the league’s existing Heroine and Explorer editions and are part of its current uniform system.
The Rebel Edition jerseys and shorts became available to fans beginning May 8. The league said the designs were developed with team and community input to reflect each franchise’s identity.
WNBA visibility is also expanding
The 2026 season includes a record 216 nationally distributed games across the league’s broadcast and streaming partners. The schedule includes ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video, CBS, Paramount+, ION, USA Network, and NBA TV.
The league has 330 total regular-season games scheduled across 15 teams. This expanded distribution gives the 30th season a broader national broadcast footprint than previous seasons.
Cunningham’s explanation reflects equipment limits
Cunningham’s comments point to a practical equipment constraint affecting jersey swaps. She said players may receive only a small number of jerseys and repeatedly use them throughout the season.
Her remarks do not establish a league-wide written limit specifying exactly how many jerseys every player receives. They describe her experience and explain why having only a few jerseys can make swapping difficult.
The internet is also talking about Angel Reese expanding her Bayou Barbie brand beyond the basketball court.
The jersey swap question remains tied to access
Jersey swaps can happen when players have an extra jersey available after a competition. Cunningham’s explanation shows that jersey availability can affect whether players have an extra jersey to exchange.
The WNBA enters the final part of its 30th season with 15 teams, expanded media distribution, and a new collective bargaining agreement. Her comments provide a specific look at one equipment practice within a broader period of change for the league.
In other news, John McEnroe recalled defying wife’s warning before meeting Donald Trump at US Open.
What do you think about the WNBA’s jersey swap tradition? Like this post and comment with your thoughts!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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