If you’ve been scrolling through WNBA Twitter or checking box scores lately, you might’ve noticed a glaring absence. One of the league’s most polarizing, high-energy, and frankly, fun-to-watch players seems to have vanished from the court. So, what happened to Sophie Cunningham?
Honestly, it’s been a whirlwind year for her.
After spending six seasons as the "heart and soul" of the Phoenix Mercury, Sophie was traded to the Indiana Fever in February 2025. It was a massive shift. She went from the desert heat to the Midwest roots she grew up with. But just as she was finding her groove in Indy—shooting career highs and becoming a fan favorite—disaster struck.
The Injury That Halted Everything
Sports can be cruel.
On August 17, 2025, during a high-stakes game against the Connecticut Sun, Sophie went down. It wasn't a non-contact trip or a simple stumble. She was sliding down the baseline to help on defense when she collided with Sun guard Bria Hartley. It looked bad immediately. She collapsed, clutching her right knee, and the silence in the arena was heavy.
The diagnosis was a torn MCL.
The Indiana Fever officially announced two days later that Sophie would miss the remainder of the 2025 season. It was a gut punch for the team. At the time, they were clawing for playoff positioning and already dealing with a roster decimated by injuries—Caitlin Clark had been sidelined for weeks with soft tissue issues, and Aari McDonald was out with a broken foot.
Sophie wasn't just a bench player; she was a spark plug. Before the injury, she was averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds, but more importantly, she was shooting a blistering 43.2% from three-point range.
Life on the Sidelines and the Road to 2026
She didn't just disappear into a rehab facility, though.
If you know Sophie, you know she’s loud. In a good way. Even with a brace on her leg, she became a fixture on the Fever bench during their 2025 playoff run. She was essentially an unofficial coach, shouting instructions and keeping the energy high.
"This season was amazing in so many ways," Sophie said during her October 2025 exit interview, "but it was also a season from hell."
She’s been incredibly candid about the mental toll of being patient. Rehab for an MCL tear is a slow grind. It’s not just about getting the strength back; it’s about trusting the knee to plant and cut again. By January 2026, things finally started looking up. Fans spotted her courtside at Indiana Pacers games, walking without a limp and hanging out with Jade Jones (Tyrese Haliburton’s girlfriend).
The Free Agency Question
Here is where it gets tricky.
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Sophie’s contract with the Fever was only for one year. As of January 2026, she is officially an unrestricted free agent.
Usually, a team would jump to re-sign a veteran shooter like her. But the WNBA is currently in a state of flux. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a mess, and there’s even been talk—mostly sparked by Sophie herself in a November 2025 interview with Front Office Sports—about whether the 2026 season will even start on time.
Then there’s the expansion draft. With the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire joining the league, the Fever had to decide who to protect. Many analysts, including those at ESPN, predicted the Fever might protect younger players like Makayla Timpson over Sophie.
It’s a business. It's cold.
Cleared Rumors and "Project B"
You might’ve also heard some wild stuff about her personal life.
Social media is a rumor factory. For a while, there was a nasty bit of gossip involving a lawsuit and the Phoenix Mercury’s CEO. Sophie shut that down fast. She posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the claims were "false and extremely hurtful."
And no, she isn't married to Cade Cunningham. They aren't even related. That was just a meme that grew legs because they share a last name and a certain "don't mess with me" attitude on the court.
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Lately, she’s been talking about Project B. It’s a new 3-on-3 league that’s reportedly offering multi-million dollar salaries. When asked about it, Sophie didn’t play coy. She basically said that if someone is waving that kind of money in your face, you have to look at it.
What’s Next for Sophie?
So, where is she now?
Right now, Sophie is back in her hometown of Columbia, Missouri. She just finished hosting her annual "Sophie Cunningham Classic" for young athletes. She looks healthy. She looks motivated.
Most importantly, she wants to be in Indiana. She’s gone on record saying she feels "most alive" in the Midwest and loves the culture the Fever built last year. Whether the front office makes the numbers work remains to be seen.
What you can do now:
- Follow her rehab journey: Sophie is very active on Instagram. If you want to see her progress back to 100% on the court, her stories are the best place for real-time updates.
- Track the WNBA Free Agency: Keep an eye on the official WNBA transaction wire. With the CBA negotiations looming, the window for her to sign a new deal with the Fever (or a new team) will be the biggest story of the spring.
- Support local clinics: If you're in the Missouri area, her youth clinics are a great way to see how she’s giving back to the game while she prepares for her seventh professional season.
Sophie Cunningham isn't done. She’s just reloading.