The Athletic columnist Candace Buckner has called for Sophie Cunningham’s departure from the Indiana Fever following their recent playoff exit at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces. After finishing the WNBA season with a 28-16 record and securing the sixth seed, the Fever lost the series in three games. Buckner argued in her column that Cunningham’s presence on the team has been more of a liability than an asset.
Buckner was blunt about Cunningham’s impact, or lack thereof. She wrote that for the Fever to recover and “go back to being a basketball team again,” Cunningham must leave. Buckner’s critique extended beyond Cunningham’s on-court performance, pointing to off-court controversies including Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes in women’s sports, which stirred division within the team and the league.
The columnist suggested Cunningham’s temperament and public statements have created tensions, particularly considering the presence of star player Caitlin Clark on the roster. Buckner described Cunningham as “too combustible” and said her “takes too turbulent” to coexist with Clark, who herself has faced social media backlash and internal team conflicts. According to Buckner, Cunningham’s words have introduced “new divisions” that the Fever cannot afford.
Cunningham’s numbers for the season were modest. In 43 games, she averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Buckner questioned Cunningham’s future in the league, proposing she might be better suited for another team or a different career entirely. She wrote, “Go to Chicago, or Portland. Or maybe Toronto could use a 30-year-old unrestricted free agent who averages fewer than 8 points a game.” Buckner went further, musing about Cunningham possibly leaving basketball altogether to become a professional UFC ring girl or a full-time finger-pointer on social media.
The Fever’s season was overshadowed by off-court distractions, and Cunningham’s comments about transgender athletes were a significant source of controversy. These issues came amid a competitive season where Indiana ultimately could not overcome the Aces in the playoffs.
Candace Buckner’s column in The Athletic is the most direct public call for a roster change involving Cunningham since the Fever’s elimination. The team’s management has not issued an official response to the column or indicated any decision regarding Cunningham’s future with the club.
According to Yahoo Sports.