Sophie Cunningham is no longer just a basketball player; she has become a crossover star who appeals to people off the court.
When Dana White came out to promote a UFC event while wearing a Sophie Cunningham shirt and doing her famous double bird move, it showed how far her influence has spread. Now, on his YouTube channel, analyst Robin Lundberg explained how White’s endorsement changes Cunningham’s free agency perspectives.
Advertisement
“From a social media click-through perspective, from an attention perspective, from a headline perspective, from a sports talk perspective, from a radio acumen perspective, there’s a real argument to be made that Sophie Cunningham is as big as anyone not named Caitlin Clark,” Lundberg said.
He addressed his future directly, saying, “It’s such a mutual relationship for Sophie to stay with Indiana to continue and because she helps them on the field.”
Cunningham’s rise quickly accelerated after a key event on June 17 in a Fever-Connecticut Sun game.
When she physically defended her teammate, Caitlin Clark, while confronting Jacy Sheldon, the moment went viral and became the most talked about play of the 2025 WNBA season. Fans who had long called for more protection for women’s basketball’s most valuable player appreciated that she was willing to protect the league’s star player.
Advertisement
Cunningham has also been honest about the league’s financial problems.
She discussed an unusual career extra during her appearance on “Sundae Conversation.”
“Not Plan A, Project B. I think you need the league because that’s what gives you the platform to have all these fans. Maybe Plan B should support that platform.”
His comments came at a time when the CBA negotiations were tense.
The players wanted around 30% of gross revenue, while the league offered around 70% of net revenue. The union wanted salary caps above $10 million, with average salaries around $1 million. The league, for its part, wanted a cap of $5 million. These big differences are why Cunningham and others are looking for different ways to make money.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, his free agency is still on hold until a new collective bargaining agreement is signed. But his relationship with Clark, Lexie Hull and the Fever fan base makes Indiana the best place to play his own style of basketball and entertain fans.
WNBA moves forward despite contract impasse
The WNBA is not going to sit back and wait for players and owners to agree on money. Even though there is no final contract, the league just released its full schedule for 2026, showing that the show will go on.
While they work out the real details behind closed doors, the two sides follow a temporary agreement.
IMAGINE
The 30th season will have the same 44-game format, with breaks for international matches and playoffs continuing through November.
Advertisement
A WNBA spokesperson told Yahoo Sports: “Releasing the 2026 schedule is a key milestone as we prepare for the WNBA’s 30th season and allows teams, partners, broadcasters and fans to begin essential planning for the year ahead. »
Arena bookings and broadcast deals can’t wait until the drama deal ends. So things are about to get complicated.
Players want salary caps of over $10 million and salaries averaging around $1 million. The league prefers to be safe and tie increases to real revenue growth.
However, the publication of the calendar clearly indicates that basketball will take place in 2026. But the debates over the amount of player compensation are far from over.
The position Dana White’s Sophie Cunningham Shoutout Changes Conversation Around Her Future in Indiana Fever, Analyst Says appeared first on EssentiallySport.
