The WNBA has grown a lot in recent years. Sophie Cunningham, one of the players who has seen the league's growth, said she always knew the WNBA had big goals, but she did not expect it to grow this fast.

She said the same to reporters about Toronto joining the WNBA, as shared by Savanna Hamilton on her X. Sophie feels the league looks very different now compared with when she first joined.

Cunningham said, “I always knew that the WNBA had, you know, big aspirations, but I never knew if we were ever going to get there. Sometimes we hold ourselves a little bit, but I think that we're starting to push the needle.”

Cunningham also added that Toronto is a good example of the WNBA taking bigger steps, as per a clip posted by Savanna Hamilton on X.

A few years ago, Cunningham saw a sold-out exhibition game in Toronto and was impressed by the fans, but still doubted the city would get a team. Cunningham talked about being once unsure about how much the WNBA could grow. 

She also explained why Toronto joining the league is important for more than just business. It gives Canadian players and young fans a chance to see professional women’s basketball closer to home. 

“There’s little girls here who should be in the WNBA. They shouldn’t have to come to the States to be in the WNBA”, Sophie added. 

Cunningham’s comments show that she never doubted the WNBA’s potential. She was only unsure if the league would actually achieve its big goals.

Sophie Cunningham Highlights the Bigger Meaning Behind WNBA Expansion

Beyond Toronto joining the league, Sophie Cunningham believes the WNBA’s growth is also giving young fans more role models. She said players from different backgrounds can help children believe they can also reach the highest level of basketball.

Cunningham also talked about her own background and why representation is important to her in the same X clip by Hamilton.

“For me, I was raised on a farm. I’m a little sassy, I’m girly, I’m feisty”, she said  

She believes young girls do not always need a perfect role model. Sometimes, seeing someone they can relate to on TV can make a big difference. Cunningham said this is one of the most special parts of being a professional athlete.

Cunningham explained how players can inspire young fans. 

She said, “All they need is someone that looks like them on TV for them to go like do whatever they want to do.”

This makes Cunningham’s comments about Toronto even more important. For her, expansion is not just about adding new teams or entering new markets.

It is also about making the WNBA easier to watch, more visible, and more welcoming for the next generation of players.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Rudra Dubey