INDIANA — Former Phoenix Mercury player Sophie Cunningham is under fire for her thoughts over the new WNBA expansion teams announced Monday morning.
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Jun 30, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham (9) against the Indiana Fever at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The WNBA announced three more teams will join the league in the coming years: Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. The news has sparked reactions from players and fans, who say the expansion will create more opportunities for players by increasing the number of available roster spots.
For Cunningham, she’s not entirely sure if it’s a good idea.
Fever star Sophie Cunningham on the WNBA expanding to multiple new cities over the next few years:
“I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]” pic.twitter.com/pncwYpMar3
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 1, 2025
In a video by Yahoo Sports, Cunningham said the league needs to listen to the players in regards of where they want to play. She mentions Miami, Nashville and Kansas City as places that could be exciting to play in.
“You also want to make sure you’re not expanding our league too fast,” she said. “… I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland].”
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Cunningham’s comments didn’t sit well with many fans and voiced their thoughts on her remarks.
The last time we were home to a WNBA team (Detroit Shock) we ranked top five in attendance for five straight seasons, No. 1 in attendance for three straight seasons and set a single-game attendance record of 22,076 fans at Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals.
Additionally more than… https://t.co/ePZhzQE1f3
— City of Detroit (@CityofDetroit) July 1, 2025
Sophie, your teammate doesn’t seem to think Cleveland is too bad!
We’re proud to have been chosen to host a WNBA team and any player who comes here will feel that legendary passion Cleveland sports fans show our teams! https://t.co/FVQ2NjkmdO pic.twitter.com/dVTCud6w7x
— City of Cleveland (@CityofCleveland) July 1, 2025
Sis, you play in Indiana. No disrespect. https://t.co/xg8PtrKtSJ
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) July 1, 2025
It’s always people who have likely never been to Cleveland who say this… this city is an extremely underrated sports town, and just city in general to outsiders https://t.co/HB2siFBlmH
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) July 1, 2025
i’ve never seen a league with players trying to sabotage their own growth this badly https://t.co/8TpGmZk3ZF
— ͏q☂️ (@honestlyqu) July 1, 2025
1. she said Cincinnati instead of cleveland. didn’t even get the city right
2. giving examples of cities you think would be better and listing kansas city is crazy work
3. this is weird https://t.co/0sZRQgYMKV
— Abby Mueller (@abby_mueller_) July 1, 2025
People are just so incredibly dense. How are you going to sit there and say that people aren’t going to be excited about going to Detroit- an incredibly passionate and historic sports city with some of the most dedicated fans out there. Saying things like this just shows that you… https://t.co/SPeLvLDuzO
— Delaney Rimer (@delaneydrw) July 1, 2025
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
