Sophie Cunningham on WNBA expansion to Detroit, Cleveland; reactions
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham caused quite a stir this week when she suggested that the WNBA might have been making a mistake in giving expansion teams to the cities of Cleveland and Detroit.

“I also think you want to listen to your players too, like, where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans?” Cunningham said earlier this week. “Miami would’ve been a great one, Nashville is an amazing city, Kansas City— amazing opportunity with a huge arena downtown that no one’s using.”

“I’m not so sure what the thought process is there,” the 28-year-old admitted. “… I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland].”

As you might expect, that comment didn’t sit well in either Detroit or Cleveland and she’s been getting roasted for saying that for days.

But WNBA legend Nancy Lieberman might be the voice of reason in this whole controversy.

Speaking to TMZ this week, the women’s basketball icon pointed out that that legends like LeBron James and Grant Hill had a great time in Cleveland and Detroit during their respective tenures with the teams. Lieberman believes that if Cunningham simply gave the cities a chance, she might come to respect them.

“She might wanna talk to LeBron James or Grant Hill about what it’s like to play in Cleveland or Detroit. I don’t know if it’s cities that she maybe has frequented. But if she were there, she would understand the fandom, the support, and how loyal those cities are to their fanbase.”

Among the many to also clap back at Cunningham were the cities of Cleveland and Detroit themselves on social media:

“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 775,000 people were excited to come to Detroit for the 2024 NFL draft. Detroit is a sports town. We’re sure we’ll see the same excitement for the WNBA returning,” the City of Detroit account on X posted.

BIG3 coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: Coach Nancy Lieberman of the Power looks on during the game against the Trilogy during BIG3 – Week Seven at the Orleans Arena on August 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

“Sophie, your teammate doesn’t seem to think Cleveland is too bad!” the City of Cleveland account wrote. “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!”

Cunningham can certainly double-down if she wants, but it won’t make her any more popular in those two cities.