“I thought this would feel different—but it doesn’t” — Sophie Cunningham reveals her SURPRISING disappointment after joining the Indiana Fever, sparking questions about what really went wrong behind the scenes

 

WNBA star Sophie Cunningham isn’t holding back. Just weeks after making headlines with her high-profile move to the Indiana Fever, she’s now admitting it didn’t live up to expectations. Fans expected excitement, but instead, they’re hearing hints of regret. Was it a clash of chemistry, a misstep in team culture, or something deeper? Cunningham’s candid comments are stirring speculation—and raising eyebrows about what’s unfolding inside the Fever locker room.

Find out what Cunningham really meant—and what it could mean for her future in the league.

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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has experienced an unintended shift in her career profile since joining the franchise via trade in January.

The 28-year-old played her first five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury after being a second-round pick out of Missouri. She built a solid career and was well-respected within WNBA circles, but little-known among the public.

That status began to change when Cunningham joined Caitlin Clark and the Fever in an offseason trade. Her fame skyrocketed when she was ejected from a game against the Connecticut Sun in mid-June for coming to Clark’s defense.

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During that game, Sun’s guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye, who retaliated with a shove, only to be knocked to the ground by Marina Mabrey. The teams played with more fire the rest of the contest. In the game’s closing minutes, Cunningham executed a horse-collar tackle of Sheldon, who was going in for a meaningless fast-break layup.

Since the video of her sticking up for Clark went viral, Cunningham’s jersey sales skyrocketed and she gained hundreds of thousands of new followers on social media.

Despite all that attention, Cunningham isn’t entirely satisfied

When asked by beat reporter Andrew Dukowitz about how her brand has taken off in recent weeks, Cunningham expressed some discomfort:

“I didn’t mean for it to blow up like that. I didn’t mean for it to blow up at all, to be honest. But at the end of the day I’m here to focus on basketball. I’m still so not satisfied with how I’m playing … I just need to dial-in, focus on my shot, focus on getting back to where I was before I got injured. So that’s where my mind’s at.”

On May 30, Cunningham left the Fever’s 85-83 loss to the Sun after reaggravating a right ankle injury that also kept her out of the season’s first two games. She then missed another three games.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8).

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8).

© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“This is all super cool; I think it’s fun,” Cunningham continued. “I think it’s cool to show young boys and girls that it’s cool to stand up for your teammates, to stand up for your friends. But in my mind, it’s like, ‘I need to start scoring the ball.’”

Cunningham is averaging 5.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1 steals per game this season in 11 contests. This is her lowest scoring average since 2021, when she mostly came off the bench and averaged 17.5 minutes per game for the Mercury.