Indiana Fever fans were stunned this offseason as guard Sophie Cunningham openly admitted that financial incentives could pull key players away from the team, casting doubt on the future of a roster that nearly reached the WNBA Finals in 2025. Cunningham, who averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists during a season marred by injuries to five core players, including star Caitlin Clark, spoke candidly in an interview with Front Office Sports about the uncertainty looming over Indiana’s offseason plans.
“It’s simple,” Cunningham said. “If people want to come back, we’re trying to keep our core together. But, you know, when money is waved in people’s faces, you just never know.” Her comments underscore the tension between loyalty and financial opportunity, a reality many WNBA teams face as free agency approaches.
Cunningham’s own contract highlights the stakes. Playing on a one-year, $100,000 deal in 2025, she was tied for the third-largest salary on the team. But a proposed new collective bargaining agreement could push the supermax salary from $249,244 to $850,000 — potentially tripling or quadrupling what Cunningham could earn next season. “If people are going to be paying you multi-million dollar deals, why would you not?” Cunningham said, acknowledging that free agency decisions often hinge on financial considerations rather than team loyalty alone.
The Fever face a delicate balancing act. With unrestricted free agents like Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, Lexie Hull, Damiris Dantas, and Aari McDonald all potentially seeking lucrative deals, Indiana’s front office will have tough decisions about where to allocate resources. On the other hand, All-Stars Clark and Aliyah Boston remain on cheap rookie contracts, providing the team with some much-needed flexibility to retain key talent.
The larger context of Cunningham’s comments is the ongoing negotiation between the WNBA and its players over a new CBA, expected to raise salaries across the league. For a player like Cunningham, the financial incentives are enormous — enough to potentially pull even the most loyal athletes to other teams or leagues. Fans watching the Fever’s 2025 playoff run, which ended just short of the Finals, may now wonder if they will ever see a fully healthy roster back together.
Cunningham, reflecting on the injuries that plagued the Fever’s 2025 campaign, promised fans revenge for next season but has tempered that promise with a dose of realism. “I can’t just not look at other opportunities,” she said. For Indiana, this offseason could define not just the team’s financial strategy, but its competitive future.
As the WNBA prepares for a new era of contracts and player mobility, the question is clear: will Indiana retain its core, or will money tempt stars away before the Fever can truly realize their potential? Fans are left anxiously watching the clock, wondering which decisions will shape the 2026 season and beyond.
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