Sophie Cunningham Remains Key Question for Fever After WNBA Expansion Draft
Sophie Cunningham won't be headed to the Toronto Tempo or Portland Fire via the WNBA expansion draft, which means the Indiana Fever still face a looming decision about her future.
It was always unlikely Cunningham would be taken by either new franchise given each could only take one unrestricted free agent who they would then in turn be able to offer a supermax deal to. While Cunningham is a versatile contributor and a draw off the court, she isn't quite on that tier as an individual player.
Still, Fever fans were curious whether she would make the list of five players the team was able to protect, just to ensure there was no risk of losing her outside shooting and enforcer role due to either new team trying to make a big splash.
Though the list of players protected was not revealed, it's reasonable to surmise that Cunningham could have been left off it given Makayla Timpson was not selected. Timpson is on a rookie deal and has the upside to develop and since she's not a free agent she likely would have been taken if available.
What Happens With Cunningham Now?
If the Fever did indeed leave Cunningham unprotected, that doesn't mean they don't value her. It would have simply been a (likely wise) calculated risk that she wouldn't be poached. However, the catch is, she is a free agent anyway—so her future with the squad is not cemented.
The question of whether she returns to Indiana now likely becomes a monetary one. It is apparent the team's first priority is bringing back Kelsey Mitchell, who will command a supermax salary. Aliyah Boston is now max-eligible thanks to the new CBA and Caitlin Clark's rookie scale salary increases significantly before she becomes max-eligible herself next year—meaning the salary cap room around the Fever's foundational trio is shrinking.
Lexie Hull is also a free agent, but a restricted one, so it stands to reason Indiana will take advantage of the opportunity to match any offer she receives. So at that point Cunningham's place on the roster likely comes down to what kind of raise Indiana can give her versus what she might garner on the open market.
But there are other factors at play as well. Cunningham brings three-point shooting and toughness to the floor, but her star power has also risen playing alongside Clark. Given she fits in basketball wise and the increased attention that comes in Indiana, one would think she is inclined to stay if things are anywhere close to equal.
Bottom line, the true answer of whether Cunningham will suit up for the Fever in 2026 will be revealed soon as all WNBA offseason business needs to be conducted quickly with just a few weeks before training camp.
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his popular YouTube channel. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak On SI and Indiana Fever On SI!
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