Indiana Fever swing-player Sophie Cunningham has landed herself in the middle of a storm after questioning whether WNBA players would really “be excited” to relocate to new franchises in Detroit and Cleveland when expansion kicks in later this decade. Her remarks—delivered with trademark bluntness—spread quickly on social media and sports talk shows, igniting sharp push-back from fans in those blue-collar markets who felt their cities had been disrespected.
Cunningham’s comments contrasted Detroit and Cleveland with glitzier destinations such as Miami or Nashville, cities she argued offer broader off-court appeal. Within hours, current and former athletes, civic leaders, and even an NFL lineman from the Lions weighed in, reminding her that Detroit once hosted a championship-winning WNBA team and that both towns boast loyal basketball followings.
The public backlash quickly reached league headquarters. According to multiple reports, the WNBA issued Cunningham an official warning and levied a fine reported to be in the “five-figure” range—one of the stiffer penalties for off-court conduct in recent years. League officials described her remarks as “detrimental to growth initiatives” and emphasized that expansion cities must be treated with equal respect.
Facing mounting criticism, Cunningham took the microphone again before the Fever’s matchup with the Aces. She clarified that she “never meant to slight” Detroit or Cleveland’s basketball heritage, insisting her focus was the lifestyle differences players weigh when choosing a city. While acknowledging the apology, local supporters remain skeptical, arguing that her initial words revealed deeper biases against Rust Belt markets.
For now, both Cunningham and the WNBA hope the fine draws a line under the episode so that attention can pivot back to the court—and to the league’s ambitious plan to reach 18 franchises by 2030. Whether the incident fades or lingers as a cautionary tale will depend on how players and fans respond when Detroit and Cleveland officially tip off in the seasons ahead.
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