Sophie Cunningham knows exactly what she wants from her new contract.
The Indiana Fever star has become one of the WNBA’s most recognizable figures in recent months, thanks in part to establishing herself as Caitlin Clark’s ‘enforcer’ on the court.
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Cunningham has made a contract demand and hinted her future might not be with IndianaCredit: Getty
Now, though, she has thrown doubt on her future with the team.
Sophie Cunningham makes big contract statement
Speaking on the October 31 episode of her Show Me Something podcast, the 29-year-old revealed she wants to sign a multi-year WNBA deal — whether that be with the Fever or somewhere else.
“I think the next team I play for, I want a bigger contract,” Cunningham, who joined the Fever 10 months ago, said.
“So then I can buy a house and be homey and cozy.”
Her co-host, West Wilson, added fuel to the fire, responding: “F*** yeah! Wow, that could be the Liberty — could be New York City.
“It could also be the Lynx in Minneapolis, you just don’t know.”
Cunningham then concluded: “It could be anywhere.”
Fever fans call for team to lock down star
Her comments quickly caught the attention of Indiana fans, and many took to social media to implore the team to offer her that big deal.
“Make our fan favorite Sophie a Fever for life by paying her what she is worth. We can’t lose her.” one person wrote on X.
“We have GOT to keep our enforcer. She is the Fever’s spark plug,” another said.
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Cunningham has revealed she wants a big contract to be able to buy herself a houseCredit: Show Me Something Sophie Cunningham & West Wilson
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She hinted that her future could be away from the FeverCredit: Getty
“Hopefully they give her a huge contract… I’m hoping and praying for that,” a third wrote.
A fourth simply concluded: “Pay Sophie!”
Cunningham played 30 games for the Fever in 2025 and averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game before her season ended in August with a torn MCL.
WNBA’s current CBA extended as talks drag on
Cunningham’s apparent message to the Fever came amid a fresh twist to negotiations between the WNBA Player’s Association (WNBAPA) and the league.
The two parties have been trying to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and the current deal was set to expire last Friday (October 31).
Ahead of that deadline, the WNBA and WNBAPA agreed to a 30-day extension, through November 30, as talks continue to drag on.
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Negotiations between the league and WNBAPA will continue with a CBA extensionCredit: Getty
Both sides have exchanged public criticism over the handling of negotiations in recent days, while WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently suffered humiliation on a TV broadcast.
“The WNBPA Executive Committee agreed to the league’s proposed 30-day extension of the current CBA, with the condition that the players may terminate the extension at any time with 48 hours’ notice,” a statement from the players’ association confirmed.
“While we believed negotiations would be further along, the players are more focused, united, and determined than ever to reach an agreement that reflects their value and undeniable impact on the league.”
Had the current CBA expired, that would have opened the door to a possible strike by players, or lockout initiated by owners.
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The WNBA has grown massively in recent years and players want a fair cutCredit: GettyWhat are the WNBA and WNBAPA discussing for the new CBA?
As negotiations continue, meetings have centered on how the league’s salary cap is determined.
ESPN reports that the WNBA has ‘proposed sizable increases to the league’s minimum and maximum salaries‘ which it believes reflects increased revenue generated since the last CBA was signed in January 2020.
While the proposal maintains revenue targets that could allow players to share in future growth, the salary cap would remain fixed during the deal if those targets are not met.
The WNBPA has countered with offers that would tie the salary cap to basketball-related income, much like the model that the NBA and NFL have long operated under.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said last week that WNBA players will get a ‘big’ salary increase under the new CBA, but argued that share ‘isn’t the right way to look at it’ when asked if stars deserved a larger cut of WNBA revenue.
The WNBAPA counted his claims, and suggested the league is trying to ‘put lipstick on a pig’ with a system that ‘intentionally undervalues the players’.
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