With CBA tensions rising and a massive free-agency wave looming, WNBA fans are already stretched thin. Add two expansion teams about to reshape every roster, and anxiety is at an all-time high. However, nothing sparked backlash quite like the suggestion that the Fever might not protect Sophie Cunningham.

The league is expected to finalize its new CBA soon, and once that happens, the first domino to fall will be the expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, both joining the WNBA in 2026. And with two teams selecting rather than one, the protection math becomes far more unforgiving.

But among all the speculation, it was ESPN’s Kevin Pelton projection that lit the spark: Cunningham will not be on Indiana’s protected list, as the franchise’s final protected spot may go to rookie Mikayla Timpson.

With two new teams joining the league next year, all 13 of the existing WNBA teams could be limited to protecting just five players, one fewer than during the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft last season. For the Fever, three spots are already locked in with Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, assuming they re-sign Mitchell in free agency, a move the franchise has repeatedly called its “top priority”.

Lexie Hull is another athlete who is widely projected as the fourth protected player, which leaves one final slot up for grabs, and while fans assumed it would be Sophie Cunningham, who recently surpassed Clark on Google’s annual “Year in Search”, Pelton’s logic behind his claim is? Unless an expansion team views Cunningham as a core-level player, her contract status and age could make her less appealing than a younger, high-upside prospect.

To complicate things even further, Natasha Howard is automatically safe because her core designation history makes her ineligible for selection, meaning the franchise doesn’t need to protect her, but it also tightens the squeeze on the remaining players fighting for that final protected spot.

So, as soon as this speculation by the multinational sports media company hit the web, fans took to social media to voice their opinions.

Strong fan backlash erupts over Sophie Cunningham snub

In early 2025, the Indiana Fever secured Cunningham from the Phoenix Mercury in a four-team deal, bringing her to Indiana to play with Clark and become a key shooter for the team. And before she got injured, that’s exactly what she was doing. Cunningham was averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, but after a season-ending torn MCL requiring surgery, the 29-year-old star was sidelined and watched the games as a spectator as the Fever went on to lose to the Las Vegas Aces in the semi-finals. But her chemistry with Clark made her a fan-favourite immediately, leading to a nationwide spark as she might not be on the list for the upcoming season. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan wrote, “Not protecting Sophie Cunningham should be considered a crime.” While another wrote, “Fever not protecting Sophie nothing surprising. Dumbest decision to let her go. Sophie can leave then. Will follow wherever she goes instead.”

However, even if the Fever protects her, Sophie Cunningham’s future in Indy is far from guaranteed. She’s still headed toward free agency, meaning Indiana could protect her now and still lose her later. And she might not even want to join the team herself, as on her podcast, ‘Show Me Something,’ the WNBA star didn’t sound confident when asked about her future with the Fever.

“I think the next team I play for, I want a bigger contract, so I can then buy a house and be homey and cozy,” she said.

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And with a resume, fans know she will be selected by another team in no time, as one said, “Sophie Cunningham has many options. If Fever protect her, they probably have a deal ironed out. If they don’t, she is a free agent and will look for a near to max contract with some years. Toronto may want a big draw like Sophie. She will be main attraction, the star. She has always played second fiddle to big stars. Now, she can be the star vet player for a team. I think she will be as popular there.”

Whereas another wrote, “It’s risky leaving Sophie Cunningham unprotected but I understand the dice roll here, with high hopes you still get to resign her in Indy. Fever would need to have serious convos with her before the expansion draft about what their thoughts, strategy & intentions are though.”

Except Cunningham, even Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald are listed as underprotected as per this projection. And if it’s any consolation, even Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman of The Athletic have listed Timpson as the No. 5th protect player instead of Sophie Cunningham.

Anothe fan write, “@IndianaFever bring back Temi Fagbenle and keep Sophie Cunningham!!!! Let’s make this simple this year please!!!”

But at the end of the day, all these are just speculation, not guarantees, and whether the Indiana Fever’s front office protects her or gambles on rookie upside, her future now hangs in the balance, and with the expansion draft fast approaching, the franchise won’t have much time left to make the call. And until the Fever show their hand, the debate and the fan backlash aren’t going anywhere.

If Indiana can only save one, who are you backing: Sophie Cunningham or Mikayla Timpson? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!