On July 28, Sophie Cunningham’s name was impossible to miss at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. She was there to play a basketball game, but the crowd had other plans. Some fans held signs in support of her, while others protested against her. Two teenage fans even sat courtside with messages thanking Cunningham for speaking up about girls in sports, an incident that later led to Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton being suspended by the WNBA.
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The controversy has followed the Indiana Fever star for months. Now, as the franchise enters the offseason, it adds another layer to a bigger question. With Cunningham entering free agency, will everything that has happened off the court have any impact on her future?
Fever General Manager Amber Cox answered that question in the hours following their exit from the playoffs at the hands of defending champions Las Vegas Aces.
Per WISH-TV’s Angela Moryan, “Amber Cox says Sophie Cunningham’s off-court comments will have no bearing on whether the Fever try to re-sign her.”
Moryan’s report on Cox’s plans for Cunningham doesn’t guarantee that the 30-year-old Missouri native will return to the Fever. But given the controversy surrounding Cunningham off the court, it’s understandable that many would connect the two.
She polarized the fanbase when she commented in an interview with ESPN that “young girls” should not have to compete against “biological men”. Many saw it as her attacking the trans community, a claim she has repeatedly denied.
“I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Cunningham had said.
The backlash was intense, and so was the support for Cunningham. During the Fever’s games against the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm that followed the interview, groups of protesters and supporters gathered outside the arenas.
Social media blew up. She gained more than 1.6 million Instagram followers in just two months, moving past Clark to become the WNBA’s second-most-followed player, behind Angel Reese. Influencers and former NBA players also weighed in, further dividing the WNBA fanbase. Suddenly, the Indiana Fever, already under pressure to contend for a championship with a healthy Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, had another reason to stay in the media spotlight.
The focus shifted to the Fever’s playoff run when the post-season began. But alas, that’s over. And now, we’re back to what the Fever will do with Cunningham, who certainly brings eyeballs to the organization from all sides.
Cox has made it clear that, despite Cunningham being one of the most talked-about players in the league, her future with the Fever will be determined by what she did on the court during the 2026 season.
Speaking at a press conference after the Aces’ win, she said: “She’s an unrestricted free agent, so we look forward to having those conversations. Again, she had a really productive year, and we’ll see just where things take us.”
Cunningham became a fan favorite in Indiana during her second season with the Fever. She built her reputation as an on-court enforcer who often stepped in to protect teammate Caitlin Clark.
Cunningham also remained an important and efficient piece of Indiana’s bench. In 43 appearances during the 2026 season, she averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 22.2 minutes per game. She also shot 46.0% from the field and 41.9% from three-point range. Plus, she has acted as one of the leaders in the locker room, something Cox emphasized in her press conference.
“She is a really solid leader in the locker room, a great connector. She brings levity, but also brings a lot of experience. She’s serious and is an important voice in our locker room when we need it,” said Cox.
The comments made by Cox suggest that the Fever might be leaning toward bringing Cunningham back, but she’ll hardly be the sole focus for the front office.
Mitchell, who averaged 24.7 ppg and broke the WNBA single-season scoring record, is something the Fever would surely not pass out on. Her partnership with Clark made the Fever one of the most feared offenses in the league. Taysha Harris, Myisha Hines-Allenn, and Mercedes Russell are the others who have entered free agency following the playoff exit.
Mitchell will likely remain the Fever’s top priority, with Cunningham behind, entering free agency after her one-year, $665,000 contract expired on October 2 following the 94-83 defeat to the Aces. She joined Indiana from Phoenix in 2025.
Now, with Cunningham’s future in Indiana up to the Fever front office, Cox has made one thing clear — her play on the court will be what matters most. In that regard, she’s clearly a valuable asset valued by the GM, head coach Stephanie White, and also Clark.