Indiana Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Makes Announcement Amid WNBA Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 5:31 PM ET

Sophie Cunningham watched as the Indiana Fever produced one of the more surprising runs of the 2025 WNBA playoffs, pushing the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces to a decisive Game 5 in the semifinals despite multiple key players sidelined by injury, including Cunningham, Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson.

Cunningham was acquired by the Fever from the Phoenix Mercury in a multi-team offseason trade that saw NaLyssa Smith depart the team. In her first season in Indiana, Cunningham became a key part of Stephanie White’s rotation, averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. However, she missed the entire postseason after undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn MCL in her right knee.

Following the season, Cunningham saw her one-year, $100,000 contract expire, making her an unrestricted free agent. While she awaits her next move in the WNBA, Cunningham continues to make strides off the court.

From Jan. 9-11, Cunningham will host the fourth annual Sophie Cunningham Classic in her hometown of Columbia, Missouri. The basketball tournament showcases some of the top women's high school teams from the Midwest, giving players an opportunity to display their talents in front of college coaches while also providing each participant with financial education materials.

In addition to hosting the tournament, Cunningham also offers a wide array of Sophie Cunningham Classic merchandise, ranging from shirts to hats featuring the event’s logo or a caricature of Cunningham. On Tuesday, she revealed that the merchandise store will now include custom Missouri Cunningham jerseys.

"Days Away!" the Sophie Cunningham Classic wrote on Instagram. "Don't miss out and secure your ️ now. Also, we're excited to announce, custom Mizzou Cunningham jerseys are now available as well as all of our classic looks. Get your merch ahead of time or visit our #SophieCunninghamClassic stores onsite this weekend. Link in bio for tickets and to ️"

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Cunningham became one of the best players in Missouri's women's basketball history. From 2015 to 2019, she averaged 17.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, becoming a three-time All-SEC member.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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