Sophie Cunningham continues to embrace her role as a villain in the WNBA, this time stirring controversy with her reaction to league expansion news.
On Monday, the WNBA announced that new franchises would launch in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia beginning in the 2028 season. While Cunningham expressed support for expansion overall, she questioned the selection of cities, saying places like Miami, Nashville, or Kansas City might be more appealing to players.
“I’m not sure how thrilled people are about going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” Cunningham remarked.
As expected, fans in both Detroit and Cleveland quickly pushed back against her take. Cleveland supporters were especially irritated, particularly since she seemed to mistake the city for Cincinnati.
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper was among those who responded. A fan favorite in the city, Skipper implied that Cunningham was speaking without real knowledge of Detroit but would learn otherwise soon.
“Have you even been there? Not a bad place to play — well, maybe not for you now,” Skipper posted on X.
Cunningham has recently gained recognition for her tough, physical style, often defending her teammate Caitlin Clark. Her latest comments will likely boost her popularity with Fever fans but may also ignite rivalries with two of the league’s future franchises.
