The Indiana Fever offseason just took a dramatic turn and fans are not taking it lightly. Sophie Cunningham’s future with the team has suddenly become one of the most heated conversations in the WNBA after new projections hinted she may not be protected in the upcoming expansion draft. What looked like a routine roster prediction has exploded into full blown fan outrage.
Speculation around Cunningham’s status began when ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton released his projected list of Indiana’s protected players for the 2026 expansion draft. The expected names were there Caitlin Clark Aliyah Boston Lexie Hull Kelsey Mitchell and rookie Makayla Timpson. But fans immediately noticed someone missing. The absence of Sophie Cunningham set social media on fire within minutes.
Cunningham’s connection with the Fever fanbase has grown rapidly since her arrival from Phoenix in the high profile 2025 trade. She brought toughness shooting confidence and a veteran voice that Indiana needed during their surprising playoff run. Even after suffering her MCL injury she remained an emotional leader constantly supporting teammates from the sidelines and working closely with Clark during critical moments of the postseason.
The WNBA’s expansion complicates everything. With the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire set to join the league teams are forced to make difficult decisions based on talent contracts salary cap situations and long term planning. Losing a player like Cunningham is more than a roster adjustment it’s a major culture loss for a team trying to build long term chemistry around its young core.
Fans have made their feelings very clear. Posts calling her unprotected status a crime and vows to follow her to whichever team picks her up have dominated the online conversation. The passion behind these reactions shows just how deeply Sophie has resonated with fans not just in Indiana but across the league. Her outspoken nature also plays a role especially after telling fans to pay us when asked about her future with the team.
As the expansion draft approaches all eyes will stay on Indiana. Will the Fever risk losing a beloved leader for strategic reasons or will fan pressure force a change in direction The coming months will determine whether Cunningham remains part of Indiana’s growing dynasty
Comment Section Prompt
What do you think the Fever should do Should Sophie Cunningham be protected in the expansion draft Share your thoughts in the comments.
Sophie Cunningham’s Fever Future Sparks WNBA Outrage as Expansion Drama Intensifies
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Fans are furious as Sophie Cunningham’s future with the Indiana Fever becomes uncertain amid WNBA expansion draft predictions. Here’s what’s happening.
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Indiana Fever News
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Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark, WNBA Expansion Draft, WNBA News, Lexie Hull, Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo, WNBA Offseason, Makayla Timpson
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Sophie Cunningham Fever, WNBA expansion draft, Indiana Fever news, Caitlin Clark updates, Fever offseason drama
The Indiana Fever offseason just took a dramatic turn and fans are not taking it lightly. Sophie Cunningham’s future with the team has suddenly become one of the most heated conversations in the WNBA after new projections hinted she may not be protected in the upcoming expansion draft. What looked like a routine roster prediction has exploded into full blown fan outrage.
Speculation around Cunningham’s status began when ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton released his projected list of Indiana’s protected players for the 2026 expansion draft. The expected names were there Caitlin Clark Aliyah Boston Lexie Hull Kelsey Mitchell and rookie Makayla Timpson. But fans immediately noticed someone missing. The absence of Sophie Cunningham set social media on fire within minutes.
Cunningham’s connection with the Fever fanbase has grown rapidly since her arrival from Phoenix in the high profile 2025 trade. She brought toughness shooting confidence and a veteran voice that Indiana needed during their surprising playoff run. Even after suffering her MCL injury she remained an emotional leader constantly supporting teammates from the sidelines and working closely with Clark during critical moments of the postseason.
The WNBA’s expansion complicates everything. With the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire set to join the league teams are forced to make difficult decisions based on talent contracts salary cap situations and long term planning. Losing a player like Cunningham is more than a roster adjustment it’s a major culture loss for a team trying to build long term chemistry around its young core.
Fans have made their feelings very clear. Posts calling her unprotected status a crime and vows to follow her to whichever team picks her up have dominated the online conversation. The passion behind these reactions shows just how deeply Sophie has resonated with fans not just in Indiana but across the league. Her outspoken nature also plays a role especially after telling fans to pay us when asked about her future with the team.
As the expansion draft approaches all eyes will stay on Indiana. Will the Fever risk losing a beloved leader for strategic reasons or will fan pressure force a change in direction The coming months will determine whether Cunningham remains part of Indiana’s growing dynasty or becomes one of the biggest losses of the offseason.
Comment Section Prompt
What do you think the Fever should do Should Sophie Cunningham be protected in the expansion draft Share your thoughts in the comments.
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