Sophie Cunningham clarifies herself (Photo Via X)

Sophie Cunningham just reminded everyone that owning your words, and clarifying them, still matters.

The 28-year-old Indiana Fever guard stirred things up earlier this week with blunt comments about the WNBA’s expansion cities. “I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” she said, pointing to cities like Miami, Nashville and Kansas City as more exciting options.

That didn’t sit well with fans in Michigan or Ohio. Detroit’s official city account called itself “a sports town.” Cleveland clapped back with a video of Caitlin Clark showing love to the city. Social media wasn’t quiet either.

Sophie Cunningham Stood By Her Opinion, But Showed Where Her Heart Is

Sophie Cunningham (Photo By Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images)
Cunningham didn’t backpedal. But she did step up.

“All I was really getting at is like—Broadway, the off-court lifestyle,” she explained Thursday. “Miami is intriguing. That’s all I was getting at.”

She made it crystal clear she meant no disrespect toward blue-collar cities. “I would never speak down upon middle class, blue collar, working people,” Cunningham said. “That’s where I come from. I’m from Missouri.”

And that’s what hit home. The guard known for her grit and fire on the court showed a more thoughtful side off it. She wasn’t deflecting criticism, just explaining her perspective.

“It’s me—people are going to love me, people are going to hate me,” she said. “That was my personal opinion. I think lifestyle is super important… especially for mental health nowadays.”

Cunningham, now in her first season with the Fever after six years with Phoenix, brought up a valid point many players consider: location matters. Free agents chase lifestyle just as much as championship rings. “Broadway sounds fun. Sophie in Miami sounds fun,” she joked.

But despite the controversy, she handled the heat with honesty and grace.

By Thursday afternoon, Cunningham showed she wasn’t hiding behind a PR script. “People totally misread the situation,” she said. “I think it would be fun to get some teams outside of NBA markets.”

The WNBA, led by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, confirmed its next expansion teams: Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia. Others like Miami, Nashville, and Houston made bids, but didn’t make the final cut.

Cunningham gave her take, caught flak, then explained where she was coming from without throwing anyone under the bus. That’s rare these days, and people noticed.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.