Sophie Cunningham has built a reputation for speaking her mind and backing it up with action, traits that have earned her the unofficial title of enforcer on the Indiana Fever roster. However, her outspokenness hasn’t always sat well with the WNBA. A recent example saw her fined $1,500 for boldly declaring Caitlin Clark the face of the league.

Undeterred, Cunningham is back in the headlines with another candid take. One that once again challenges the league while also spotlighting a deeper concern for player welfare. Caitlin Clark’s injury sparked this latest controversy. Cunningham believes this should serve as a wake-up call for how the league protects and supports its stars.

In the second episode of her podcast Show Me Something with West Wilson, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham didn’t hold back. She addressed a growing concern among WNBA players: the rising physical toll of an increasingly demanding schedule. “If we’re asking to get paid more, then we’re going to have to produce more product,” Cunningham said bluntly. But she also issued a warning against the grind. “You have to be really smart, especially the older that you get. I think college kids, and maybe like two years out of college, you can do it. But you can’t be playing year-round anymore.”

She pointed to the growing trend of players going overseas or joining new domestic leagues like Unrivaled, calling them a “great idea,” but expressed concern over the cumulative wear and tear. With the WNBA season becoming more packed each year, Cunningham emphasized how this stress leads to injuries and extended absences. A fitting example of that is her teammate, Caitlin Clark.

Caitlin Clark’s extended absence signals a red flag for the WNBA

Clark has missed 15 games so far due to injury. While her recovery is on track, the Fever are being cautious. The WNBA’s compressed schedule, now offering only 2.7 rest days between games on average, is a major factor. For context, in 2021, players had an average of four rest days. Meanwhile, the number of games has increased by 29% since 2019, while the length of the season has expanded by just 9.26%.

“People just have to be more aware of like you have to give your body some type of break, and like because if you’re competing at this level and we’re going to have more games at some point. I mean, we’re not 18. Your body’s not going to recover like that,” Cunningham stressed. Her sentiment is not isolated. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally previously said, “For us as players, recovery is so important. We put our bodies on the line every single time. We had nine games in 18 days.”

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie also emphasized the need for more rest, especially in light of high-profile injuries like Clark’s. She noted that expansion plans may only worsen the strain. Despite the concerns, there is a silver lining: Clark is set to return soon, with encouraging updates from the Fever coaching staff. However, the broader question remains: how sustainable is this pace? According to Cunningham, longevity in the league now depends on one key skill: knowing when to slow down.