Sophie Cunningham, who signed a one-year, $665,000 deal to return to the Indiana Fever, voiced frustrations with her new deal. Speaking on her podcast, Cunningham expressed that she was not entirely happy with her new contract.
After fans speculated that her frustrations were related to compensation, Cunningham clarified on X that she was not satisfied with the length of her deal.
“I’m gonna shut this down right now,” Cunningham wrote. “I’m not mad about the money…. I just wanted more years because I love it here. I wanted to get a house so I could bring my dog and donkey to Indy with me. That’s it. That’s the truth. I think we have something very special here in Indiana!”
Speaking to the media at the Indiana Fever’s training camp, general manager Amber Cox expressed her feelings on the subject.
“I’m not going to get into anyone’s individual negotiation,” Cox said. “We’re obviously planning for this season, but we have to look long-term too.”
“We’ve got some new wrinkles in the CBA that we have to account for,” Cox said. “Obviously, Aliyah is moving into her EPIC deal. So we just want to be really smart in how we’re thinking about the future and obviously making us the best we can be this season.”
With Caitlin Clark also set to become eligible for a max extension under the EPIC provision in the new CBA, the Fever could be paying up to 40% of their salary cap to her and Aliyah Boston next season.
So, short-term deals like the ones extended to Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull are important for the Fever to protect their long-term flexibility while remaining competitive in the present.
Sophie Cunningham changes tone, says she is “grateful” for her Indiana Fever return
While previously she had voiced frustrations with her new deal, Cunningham struck a different tone on Tuesday while discussing her return to the Fever.
“It made me sound snotty and ungrateful, and that is the last thing I ever want,” Cunningham said Tuesday. “I am so grateful. I know I’m coming off a pretty big knee injury, and so it was never about the money. It was just about the years, because I wanted to be with them. God forbid, a girl loves her teammates.”
Sophie Cunningham was limited to 30 games last season after suffering an MCL tear. She averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 46.9% and 43.2% from 3-point range. Her solid impact on both ends saw her become an established part of Stephanie White’s rotation.
Read More: Sophie Cunningham Gets Real on New Contract With Indiana Fever
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