Following an offseason trade from the Phoenix Mercury, Sophie Cunningham found a home with the Indiana Fever. Quickly earning a moniker as Caitlin Clark's "enforcer," Cunningham has become a fan favorite in Indiana, where she shot a career-best 43.2 percent from 3-point range during the 2025 season.
But a right MCL tear ended Cunningham's season in August, and she could only watch as the Fever made a surprising run to the WNBA semifinals -- where Indiana lost a winner-take-all Game 5 to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces.
Now, like practically every WNBA player not on a rookie contract, Cunningham is ticketed for free agency this spring -- whenever it starts, that is. As the WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association have not yet shaken hands on a new collective bargaining agreement, much of the 2026 league calendar is in flux, though the league has confirmed when its draft lottery will be held.
Cunningham says: Pay me!
Player salaries and revenue sharing are the key issues under discussion between the WNBA and WNBPA. Like other players, Cunningham has been vocal about what she wants from her next contract: greater control over her future and a salary that will allow her to buy a home.
Cunningham iterated her stance Wednesday from Florida, where she has accompanied Clark as the Fever's star guard participates in the LPGA's Annika pro-am. At least one Fever fan made the trek to Belleair with Cunningham, because reporter Scott Agness heard the fan tell Cunningham -- and guard Lexie Hull, also in attendance -- that she needed to re-sign with Indiana.
Cunningham's response? "Tell them to pay us."
A Fever fan shouted at Cunningham and Hull that they both need to re-sign.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 12, 2025
Cunningham: “Tell them to pay us,” she said, referencing the WNBA and their ongoing CBA negotiations. Pic.twitter.com/cX5xmGtatG
The exchange only reinforced Cunningham's focus amid the tense labor negotiations: she is not settling this time, and neither is the union. Cunningham will not commit to anything until the new CBA is in place -- and even then, she will need to see what the Fever are willing to offer against other contenders who will be interested in her services.
More WNBA news:
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Fever's Sophie Cunningham gets bad news about her future as Indiana's 'priority' revealed
Sophie Cunningham breaks down key trait Caitlin Clark shares with LeBron James
Fever's Caitlin Clark is still keeping coaches up at night despite 2025 injuries