A former Indiana Fever guard's pointed remarks about Sophie Cunningham have reopened one of the WNBA season's most divisive conversations.

Former Fever guard Sydney Colson delivered a public criticism of Cunningham on her podcast, targeting Cunningham's earlier comments about transgender athletes in women's sports. 

“When you say things that are harmful, talking about the trans, nobody respects you. Shut the f*** up. Nobody wants to hear your opinion. Freedom of speech, so you can say it, but just know, people are just trying to get by when they're dealing with you. You ought to be ashamed, y'all ought to be ashamed."

Colson, who played professionally from 2011 to 2025 and shared a locker room with Caitlin Clark for part of her career, addressed Cunningham and other white players directly in the Based in Reality podcast episode. 

Cunningham, 30, had told ESPN she believed it was "common sense" to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports. She said she wanted to "protect young girls in the locker room" and argued that girls "shouldn't have to go against biological men." 

When asked about the comments later, Cunningham stood firm. "I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense. And I think I'll always believe in that. I think it's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand by what I said."

Colson's comments arrive at a delicate moment for the franchise. The Fever exited the playoffs in the first round against the Las Vegas Aces, and the organization is already navigating major offseason decisions, including Kelsey Mitchell's free agency and potential contract discussions involving Clark. Cunningham's off-court remarks add another layer to her market value and the team's evaluation of her future.

Cunningham’s UDFA status

Cunningham is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason after a productive year with the Fever, giving her leverage as teams evaluate veteran wings who can contribute both on the floor and in the locker room. 

Indiana general manager Amber Cox has already signaled clear interest in bringing her back, praising Cunningham as a steady presence who balances humor with seriousness when the team needs to lock in. 

“She’s an unrestricted free agent, so we look forward to having those conversations. She had a really productive year, and we’ll see just where things take us,” Cox said, as published on Indy Stars. 

The comments suggest the organization values her leadership and experience, especially as the Fever look to retain key pieces and build around their young core. Whether that interest turns into a firm offer will depend on salary-cap space, competing suitors, and how both sides weigh her on-court role alongside the off-court attention her public comments have drawn.

Do you think a player's off-court views should factor into free agency decisions, or should teams focus only on on-court value?

Written by

Zaid Quraishi