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Indiana Fever’s star, Sophie Cunningham, faced criticism for the comments about the WNBA that chose Cleveland and Detroit as two of her next expansion markets.
The League announced that these two cities and Philadelphia will obtain WNBA teams by the end of 2030 in an announcement earlier this week, which led Cunningham to question if the players wanted those cities to be chosen for expansion.
“I don’t know how excited people are going to Detroit or [Cleveland]Cunningham told journalists on July 1.
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June 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; The Indiana fever guard, Sophie Cunningham (8), runs towards the court during the game against the Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn images)
Cunningham clarified his comments while talking to journalists on Thursday, and defended “blue -neck working people” associated with Cleveland and Detroit.
“First of all, I know the history of the WNBA. I know that both cities have had teams before, and they took us where we are, so I am grateful for that,” he said. “Everything I was really doing was Broadway, the lifestyle outside the court, so I think that is really intriguing. I think Miami is intriguing. That’s all he was doing.”
“I think it would be fun to get some teams out of the NBA market … I think people completely misunderstood the situation. I would never talk about middle -class working people.
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Cunningham also addressed the reaction of his comments.
“The people who excite you will be the same people who will push you. And so, for me, I always stay here in the middle. I think that was my personal opinion,” he said.
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers.
TO Series of five -part characteristics For the Alma Mater de Cunningham, the University of Missouri, recounted the agricultural roots of the south of his family.
Indiana’s injured fever guard, Sophie Cunningham (8) and Caitlin Clark’s guard (22) react from the bank during the first half of a WNBA game against Chicago Sky in United Center. (Images of Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn)
Cunningham learned to ride a horse and led four wheel vehicles to family grain silos.
“Much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” Cunningham said about working on the farm. “We loved going to the farm to help. We discovered how to work hard and work together. He made us a strong farm.”
Cunningham even had a special name for his grandparents farmers: “MAW MAK AND PAW PAW”.
However, Cunningham suggested more brilliant markets for the expansion of WNBA in its initial criticism, pointing to Miami and Kansas City.
“As, where do you want to play? Where are you going to get excited to play and draw fans? I think Miami would have been excellent. Everyone loves Florida. Nashville is an incredible city. Kansas City, an incredible opportunity. There is a great sand in the center that nobody is using,” said Cunningham. “I’m not so sure what the thought process is.
May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, in; The Indiana Sophie Cunningham fever guard (8) poses for a photo on Saturday, May 17, 2025, before a game between Indiana Faver and Chicago Sky in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith-Imagn Images through Indistar)
“At the end of the day, you do not want to expand our league too fast. We do not want the teams to dominate totally and some that are not. It is a difficult situation, but, man, I do not know how excited people are to go to Detroit or [Cleveland]”
