Sophie Cunningham Opens Up on ‘Frustrating' Fever Contract Situation
The Indiana Fever retained their core players from last season’s successful run, thanks to giving out lucrative new contract deals to Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham.
Boston made headlines for making history when the Fever gave her the richest deal in league history thus far, topping a previous high set recently by the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson. Boston signed a four-year $6.3 million deal, surpassing Wilson’s three-year $5 million deal.
Hull was next, signing a two-year deal worth $1,568,250, which gives her a 2026 salary of $765,000 and a 2027 salary of $803,250. The last to sign was Cunningham, who ESPN reported signed a new one-year deal with Indiana worth $665,000.
All three players received significant increases from what they’d previously been making thanks to the WNBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). However, Cunningham recently expressed some disappointment over her contract.
More news:Mystics' Lauren Betts Reveals Advice Cori Close Gave Her for Training Camp
Cunningham’s podcast co-host, West Wilson, asked if the contract was “better than she thought it would be,” but she shook her head, also adding, “It’s fine.”
"It's tough because I came off an injury and I haven't been in front of any teams. I had a lot going on this offseason, and I was fully cleared, I had all the doctors, they had all the numbers, everything. But if you don't get in front of these people then it's like, ‘Hey, are you actually good?'" she told her co-host on the latest "Show Me Something" podcast.
“I’m not even gonna lie, that was kind of a little frustrating, because I’m someone who’s like, I kind of shoot it straight, where if I wasn’t feeling good or like I was hesitant, I think I would’ve said something and been honest. I’m just at the point in my career where I want to win,” Cunningham shared.
Last season was Cunningham's first in Indiana but her seventh in the WNBA, after playing the majority of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. She played 30 games for Indiana with 13 starts, averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and a steal per game.
Additionally, she had a career-high 46.9 field goal percentage and 43.2 three-point percentage over the course of her season. Her season ended on Aug.17 when she suffered that brutal right knee injury against the Connecticut Sun.
She referred to her situation as “a great wake-up call to not get comfortable” and said it “lit a fire” under her for next season with the Fever. Cunningham also mentioned she’s coming back from a tough injury, but is healthy after her MCL rehabilitation and recovery.
“I feel well. I’m shooting the ball well. I’m mentally in a great spot,” she said, which is tremendous news for the Fever.
While she expressed disappointment over her new contract situation, she also showed a willingness to get back on the court and compete alongside her teammates. After nearly reaching the WNBA Finals without Caitlin Clark, she’s finally healthy, which means the Fever could be one of the top teams to contend with once again next season.
Read more: Aliyah Boston Sends 5-Word Message on Massive WNBA Deal
For more about the WNBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 6:53 PM.