INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 27: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham 8 drops back to play defense against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 27, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA JUN 27 Los Angeles Sparks at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26062780
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 27: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham 8 drops back to play defense against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 27, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA JUN 27 Los Angeles Sparks at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26062780
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is hitting an effective field goal percentage of 42.7% from beyond the arc this season, which is the second-best of her career. However, according to a veteran WNBA source, she may have just one year left in the league.
Robin Lundberg, a veteran voice for the NBA and WNBA who has covered the Indiana Fever since 2006, asked this question on his YouTube channel.
Indiana Fever v Atlanta Dream ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 20: Sophie Cunningham 8 of the Indiana Fever celebrates a three pointer during a game between Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 9405
Indiana Fever v Atlanta Dream ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 20: Sophie Cunningham 8 of the Indiana Fever celebrates a three pointer during a game between Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 9405
"If I had to predict, Sophie Cunningham is not on the Indiana Fever next year, and there's a chance she's not in the league next year," Lundberg said.
It came on the heels of Cunningham’s decreasing influence on the court. She played a season-low seven minutes and scored zero points against Washington on September 20, compared to an average of 8.0 points per game in 42 games this season.
Lundberg directly attributed the decline to Cunningham’s outside presence.
"Sophie has been a really good shooter, she's been a productive player," he said on his channel. "But when you indicate practices are too tough and then you only play seven minutes the next game, people are gonna go, 'Hmmm.'"
Coach Stephanie White later addressed defense and rebounding concerns, which Lundberg felt were a cause for concern as far as the coach's status in the program was concerned.
This reduction in playing time, however, didn't last very long. Two days later, Cunningham had 29 minutes and 11 points in a 96-77 victory over Minnesota, demonstrating once again her capacity to score with an outburst of 24 points against Toronto back in June.
Off the field, Cunningham’s increasing profile within the media brings another dimension to the discussion in her contract year.
Sophie Cunningham's Contract Situation Adds Weight To Lundberg's Prediction
In April, Cunningham penned herself a one-year, $665,000 contract with Indiana. Therefore, her contract is up once the current season finishes, irrespective of the outcome of the playoffs.
She claims that she turned down multiple-year contracts from other teams in the league to play with the Fever again this season; thus, she contradicts Lundberg's prediction.
Lundberg also cited Cunningham’s growing podcasting venture as another reason teams should take her seriously.
"No team wants to constantly be talking about what one of the players said, especially when it's a role player," he said.
Cunningham also hosts "No Hesitation," which she relaunched in September in collaboration with skill development coach Drew Hanlen, having built up her media presence as much as her basketball one ever since transferring to Indiana in 2025.
Indiana currently sports a 28-15 record and is still chasing the playoffs, meaning that Cunningham’s free agent decisions will have to wait until the season ends.
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Written by
Utsav Gupta
Edited by
Utsav Gupta