Sophie Cunningham speaks out on getting benched by Fever coach Stephanie White

Sophie Cunningham backs Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White

Cunningham believes that there is an underlying respect in White’s strong approach toward her players.

“Yeah, I think when a coach wants to challenge you, she just sees your potential,” Cunningham told reporters on Tuesday during practice.  “And it’s not always going to be good.”

Cunningham pointed to how White moved her to a bench role after she opened the WNBA season as a starter.

“I’ve been in and out of the starting lineup, out of the starting lineup right now,” Cunningham said. “And you have to put your ego and pride aside for what’s best for the team and what the team needs.

“And so, I think if everyone is willing to do that and wants to see the person right next to them be more successful than them, we’re going to be really, really good. And we’re going to be where we want to be at the end of the season.”

Cunningham started the first three games of the campaign for the Fever. However, she was demoted to a bench role in favor of Lexie Hull as the latter fully recovered from an offseason injury. Cunningham has since come off the bench for Coach White, but the fiery veteran has made it clear that she has no problem with the benching.

Cunningham has offered her full support to White.

“You need a coach that’s going to challenge you,” the 29-year-old guard said. “You need a coach that’s going to believe in you when sometimes you don’t believe in yourself. And Steph is that for all of us.”