The second season of Unrivaled is fast approaching, with the three-on-three women’s basketball league unveiling its 2026 rosters on Wednesday. After a successful six-team debut in 2025, the league expands to eight squads, adding over 20 new players and securing nearly 30 on multi-year deals through 2027. As anticipation grows, Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has weighed in with her own opinion.

Sophie Cunningham, on her podcast Show Me Something, called the Hive the “sneaky winners” of Unrivaled’s 2026 season. But it was not a casual prediction. She gave a subtle nod to her loyalty to the Indiana Fever and its rising stars.

Cunningham immediately gave a shout-out to Kelsey Mitchell. As one of Indiana’s cornerstones, all eyes will be on her. This is exactly what Sophie pointed out, saying, “You have Kelsey Mitchell, Sonia… she could have been rookie of the year last year.” Mitchell averaged 20.2 points per game last WNBA season. She continues to be one of the most consistent scorers in the league.

But it isn’t just Mitchell’s presence as Sophie further spoke highly of Ezi Magbegor and Natisha Hiedeman, describing how their skill sets complement one another. “Ezie, she’s like 6’5, can shoot, really long, athletic. Nicha Haidman she’s part of the stud buds. She’s a f——- beast, too. Lefty, very fast, good ball handler, can shoot the f——- out of the ball. Minnesota.” Cunningham also connected her praise to a broader point about Unrivaled’s structure.

“I think it’s cool that they’re paying these players because now they’re allowed to stay stateside. They’re it went actually pretty smoothly, and a lot of people really did enjoy it. So now, a lot of new people are back. A lot of the same old people are back. And so it’s going to be, I think people liked it for the most part,” Sophie highlighted.

*Unrivaled* offers players a valuable chance to remain in the U.S. during the offseason. With WNBA salaries still limited, many have long traveled overseas to leagues in China and beyond, often facing fatigue and injury risks far from home. Now, they can compete locally while spending more time with family. Kelsey Mitchell will debut with Hive BC this season, but amid offseason talks, fans are wondering when Sophie Cunningham will return to the Indiana Fever lineup.

Sophie Cunningham’s First Free Agency and a Hectic Offseason

This offseason has been a unique one for Sophie Cunningham, balancing recovery with a string of off-court ventures. From celebrity appearances to community events, she’s kept busy while rehabbing her injury. Most recently, Cunningham took the spotlight as the Honorary Pace Car Driver at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

At the event, Sophie Cunningham was seen with actress Sydney Sweeney and later served as a caddie at the Annika Pro-Am. Beneath the spotlight, though, she’s entering unrestricted free agency and now holds full control over her next move. Speaking on her podcast, Cunningham hinted at her priorities, saying, “I think the next team I play for, I want a bigger contract. So then I can buy a house and be homey and cozy.”

Cunningham on multiple occasions has hinted that she wants an Indiana comeback, but that will depend on how loose the Fever want to go with their budget given she wasn’t able to play for the Fever long.

In August 2025, Cunningham suffered a torn MCL in a game against the Connecticut Sun. The injury required surgery shortly after. Since then, she is on rehab with hopes of returning in time for the 2026 WNBA season. Whether she will re-sign with Indiana for a bigger contract or explore new opportunities only time will tell. But for now, her commitment to the Fever’s players and culture continues to prove her loyalty.