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The WNBA is talking about expansion this year as popularity continues to grow. The league already has a few cities in mind when it comes to adding new franchises.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham gave her opinion on those future expansion locations this week during an interview with media members. She’s not a huge fan!
She believes cities in the mix to become the next home of a WNBA team should be destination spots. Miami and Nashville came to mind.
“I think you want to listen to your players,” she said. “Where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play? I do think that Miami would’ve been a great one. Nashville’s an amazing city. Kansas City, amazing opportunity.”
She won’t get her wish. The league will, instead, plan to add teams in Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia.
Each of those three cities would be considered “sports towns.” All three already boast pro football, basketball, and baseball teams. That didn’t seem to matter to Cunningham.
“I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland].”
-Sophie Cunningham
The City of Detroit hit Sophie Cunningham with facts.
Detroit has already been the home of a WNBA team, which has now transitioned to become the Dallas Wings. The franchise won three league titles between 1998 and 2009 while in the Motor City.
The city’s social media site opted to inform Cunningham of that past with a response to her now-viral disrespect.
The last time we were home to a WNBA team (Detroit Shock) we ranked top five in attendance for five straight seasons, No. 1 in attendance for three straight seasons and set a single-game attendance record of 22,076 fans at Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals.
Additionally, more than 775,000 people were excited to come to Detroit for the 2024 NFL draft. Detroit is a sports town. We’re sure we’ll see the same excitement for the WNBA returning.
While Cunningham was trashing future WNBA homes, teammate Caitlin Clark offered praise. She was asked about the league’s city choices on Tuesday and had nothing but nice things to say.
This response was posted by the City of Cleveland’s official social media account.
Sophie, your teammate doesn’t seem to think Cleveland is too bad!
We’re proud to have been chosen to host a WNBA team and any player who comes here will feel that legendary passion Cleveland sports fans show our teams! https://t.co/FVQ2NjkmdO pic.twitter.com/dVTCud6w7x
— City of Cleveland (@CityofCleveland) July 1, 2025
“Sophie, your teammate doesn’t seem to think Cleveland is too bad!” the caption to the post read. “We’re proud to have been chosen to host a WNBA team and any player who comes here will feel that legendary passion Cleveland sports fans show our teams.”
Sophie Cunningham’s opinion of WNBA expansion certainly made an impression. The cities trashed spoke out loudly after the disrespect.