Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham just threw gasoline on one of the WNBA’s most sensitive conversations — and fans can’t stop talking about it. During a fiery new episode of her Show Me Something podcast, Cunningham boldly hinted that two of the league’s biggest stars, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, could be walking a dangerous tightrope between their dual roles as Unrivaled co-founders and executive members of the WNBA Players’ Association.
Her comments come as the league’s next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations intensify — a high-stakes moment that could redefine player salaries and league structure for years to come. The twist? Stewart and Collier, who have loudly advocated for higher pay, are now helping shape those very policies while also running Unrivaled — the flashy 3×3 league that has been paying players far more than the WNBA itself.
“They’re phenomenal players, right? Like, great f**** players,**” Cunningham said candidly. “But they’re also part of the W’s exec board. And that could be a little conflict of interest — because W and Unrivaled… you know?” Her tone was playful, but her words were razor-sharp. She later doubled down, smiling slyly: “That’s why there’s some conflict of interest, a little bit. So that’s interesting.”
Her remarks landed like a thunderclap across the WNBA landscape. For months, fans and insiders have whispered about the potential ethical gray area surrounding Collier and Stewart’s positions — both as influential negotiators and as entrepreneurs benefiting from a rival platform. Unrivaled’s staggering salaries have been used as leverage in public discussions about fair pay in women’s basketball, but Cunningham’s comments underscore a deeper tension: where does advocacy end and self-interest begin?
Cunningham, notably, isn’t playing in Unrivaled’s upcoming second season, which kicks off January 4, 2026 in South Beach. That detail hasn’t gone unnoticed — especially as the league adds new franchises like Hive BC and Breeze BC, featuring WNBA superstars such as Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Paige Bueckers.
Meanwhile, the Unrivaled founders’ influence within the WNBA Players’ Association gives them a front-row seat to the negotiations shaping the sport’s future. For some, it’s visionary leadership — two players building parallel opportunities for women’s basketball to thrive. For others, it’s a dangerous blending of business and policy that could tilt the balance of power.
Either way, Cunningham’s decision to speak openly about it has cracked the door wide open. She didn’t accuse anyone directly — but her knowing smirk and carefully chosen words said more than enough.
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