BREAKING: Sophie Cunningham Appears To Be Done After The 2026 WNBA Season
Sophie Cunningham’s future with the Indiana Fever has become a major talking point after one analyst suggested the veteran guard may not be back with the team in 2027 — and could even be out of the WNBA entirely.
The speculation follows a difficult outing against the Washington Mystics, when Cunningham played just seven minutes in Indiana’s 93-77 home loss.
She finished with zero points, zero rebounds and zero assists on 0-of-2 shooting, marking her lowest playing time of the season and continuing a quieter stretch since the World Cup break. Earlier in the year, she had delivered a season-high 24-point performance, showing the offensive impact she can still provide.
Analyst Questions Cunningham’s Future
WNBA analyst and SiriusXM host Robin Lundberg reacted to Cunningham’s reduced role following the Mystics game.
“Sophie Cunningham was basically benched in the Fever’s loss to the Mystics,” Lundberg said.
He then went much further with his assessment.
“If I had to predict, Sophie Cunningham is not on the Indiana Fever next year,” he said.
“And there’s a chance she is not in the league next year.”
That remains Lundberg’s prediction rather than confirmation of any decision by Cunningham, the Fever or another WNBA team.
He also pointed to recent comments and Indiana’s concerns about defense and rebounding as possible reasons for the shrinking role.
“Sophie has been a really good shooter. She’s been a productive player. She’s been a good player,” Lundberg said.
“But when you indicate practices are too tough, and then you play seven minutes the next game, people are gonna go, ‘hmm.’”
He added that when a coach calls out areas such as defense and rebounding, those are issues a player may need to examine closely.
Sophie Cunningham was basically benched in the Fever’s loss to the Mystics pic.twitter.com/e2i0UkTvBq
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) September 21, 2026
Contract Situation Adds More Uncertainty
Cunningham’s contract status makes the discussion even more significant.
She is playing on a one-year deal worth $665,000 that she signed in April and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
According to the report, Cunningham chose Indiana despite receiving multi-year offers elsewhere.
That means the Fever will have to decide whether they want to bring her back, while Cunningham will also have the freedom to explore other options around the league.
Her recent reduction in minutes does not necessarily mean Indiana has already made that decision, but it has added uncertainty around what comes next.
Off-Court Career Continues to Grow
Even as questions grow around her basketball future, Cunningham has continued building a strong platform away from the court.
She co-hosts a podcast with trainer Drew Hanlen and has made several high-profile appearances, including serving as a UFC ring girl during a major event.
Lundberg suggested those opportunities could eventually become an important part of her post-playing career.
“She’s laying the groundwork for her post playing career now on the podcast,” he said.
He also praised her ability to give an “unfiltered take” while noting that teams may not always want regular attention focused on comments made away from the court.
Still Producing for Indiana
Despite the recent dip in playing time, Cunningham has averaged roughly eight points per game this season and remains one of the WNBA’s stronger three-point shooters, according to the source.
She has also become one of Indiana’s more recognisable personalities through viral moments and media appearances throughout the year.
The Fever were still in the playoff picture with two regular-season games remaining when the report was published.
Cunningham has also previously expressed appreciation for the Fever and said she would like greater long-term security once free agency begins.
For now, there is no confirmed decision about her future.
Indiana could attempt to retain her, another team could make an offer, or her role could change again before the season is finished.
But after a seven-minute appearance and Lundberg’s striking prediction, what once looked like a straightforward contract year has suddenly become one of the bigger questions surrounding Cunningham heading into 2027.
