Sophie Cunningham clarifies controversial feedback on WNBA enlargement cities

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham confronted criticism for comments in regards to the WNBA selecting Cleveland and Detroit as two of its subsequent markets for enlargement.

The league introduced that these two cities and Philadelphia will probably be getting WNBA teams by the top of 2030 in an announcement earlier this week, prompting Cunningham to query whether or not gamers wished these cities to be chosen for enlargement.

"I don’t understand how excited individuals are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]," Cunningham advised reporters on July 1.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) runs again up the court docket through the sport in opposition to the Dallas Wings on the American Airways Middle. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Pictures)

Cunningham clarified her feedback whereas chatting with reporters on Thursday, and defended "blue-collar working folks" related to Cleveland and Detroit.

"To start with, I do know the historical past of the WNBA. I do know that each of these cities have had groups earlier than, and so they received us the place we’re at, so I’m grateful for that," she stated. "All I used to be actually getting at was Broadway, the off-court life-style and so I feel that's actually intriguing. I feel Miami’s intriguing. That’s all I used to be getting at."

"I feel it might be enjoyable to get some groups exterior of the NBA market . . . . I feel folks completely misinterpret the state of affairs. I'd by no means communicate down upon middle-class, blue-collar working folks. That’s the place I come from. I’m from Missouri. I get I’m in Indiana, and that’s why I’m type of hinting at Broadway sounds enjoyable, Miami sounds enjoyable. That’s all I used to be getting at."

WHO IS SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM? CAITLIN CLARK'S NEW BODYGUARD TEAMMATE EMERGING AS A WNBA ICON

Cunningham additionally addressed the backlash to her feedback.

"The folks that hype you up are going to be the identical folks pushing you down. And so for me, I at all times simply type of keep proper right here within the center. I feel that was my private opinion," she stated.

Cunningham comes from a household of southern farmers.

A five-part feature series by Cunningham's alma mater, the College of Missouri, recounted her household's southern farm roots.

Injured Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and guard Caitlin Clark (22) react from the bench through the first half of a WNBA sport in opposition to the Chicago Sky at United Middle. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Pictures)

Cunningham discovered to trip horses and drove four-wheelers to the household's grain silos.

"A lot of our success goes again to what we discovered right here," Cunningham stated of engaged on the farm. "We beloved popping out to the farm to assist. We discovered the way to work onerous and work collectively. It made us farm robust."

Cunningham even had a particular identify for her farmer grandparents: "Maw Maw and Paw Paw."

Nevertheless, Cunningham instructed glitzier markets for WNBA enlargement in her preliminary criticisms, pointing to Miami and Kansas Metropolis.

"Like, the place do they wish to play? The place are they going to get excited to play and draw followers? I feel Miami would have been an incredible one. Everybody loves Florida. Nashville is an incredible metropolis. Kansas Metropolis — wonderful alternative. There’s an enormous enviornment downtown that nobody's utilizing," Cunningham stated. "I am not so certain what the thought course of is there.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Might 17, 2025; Indianapolis, IN; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) poses for a photograph on Saturday, Might 17, 2025, earlier than a sport between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith-Imagn Pictures by way of IndyStar)

"On the finish of the day, you do not wish to develop our league too quick. We do not need groups to completely dominate and a few that are not. It is a onerous state of affairs, however, man, I don’t understand how excited individuals are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]."

Observe Fox Information Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Jackson Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital. He beforehand labored for ESPN and Enterprise Insider. Jackson has lined the Tremendous Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.