Sophie Cunningham fires back after column calls for Fever to drop her

Clear Facts

• Sophie Cunningham is entering unrestricted free agency after two seasons with the Indiana Fever.
• The New York Times-owned Athletic published an Oct. 6 column urging the Fever to move on from Cunningham, calling her “too combustible.”
• Cunningham averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 41.9% from three-point range in 43 games this season.

Sophie Cunningham gave a direct reply after a column from The Athletic argued that the Indiana Fever should move on from her. Cunningham said, “Suck it.” She made the comment during Friday’s episode of her podcast “No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen.”

Cunningham explained that she no longer lets outside criticism affect her. She said, “That’s why I literally don’t even care what anyone says about me anymore. Because I’ve said this so many times, is if you’re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate.”

The column claimed Cunningham’s public opinions had overshadowed the team’s basketball priorities. It described her as too combustible and suggested the Fever should let her go in free agency. Cunningham’s opposition to transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports drew both support and protests at Fever games this season.

Podcast co-host Drew Hanlen called the column an absolute hate piece. He focused on its basketball claims and pointed out that Cunningham ranked fourth among the league’s bench scorers and fifth in three-point shooting. Hanlen said, “So yes, a lot of teams would want a top five bench scorer that also happens to be a top five three-point shooter in the entire league, not just bench players.”

Hanlen also noted Cunningham’s 60.8% effective field goal percentage, which ranked fourth in the WNBA. He said, “I understand if you just don’t like somebody and you try to write a hate piece, but don’t try to kind of put down the basketball stuff. At least keep it with the facts.”

Cunningham maintained that her value goes beyond statistics. She said, “No matter what anyone says to me, I’m going to continue to do me. I know what I bring to the table. It’s not always in the stat sheet.” She added, “And so for you to like not say I’m effective or any of that, whatever. Suck it.”

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