The Indiana Fever’s offseason has been anything but quiet. With blockbuster trades, roster shake-ups, and the ever-growing Caitlin Clark phenomenon, the team has garnered quite the attention. But while the Fever is busy rebuilding, one of their newest additions has already made headlines—for what she turned down. A six-figure offer from Unrivaled wasn’t enough to sway this Indiana newcomer. Now, as she steps into the Fever’s locker room, all eyes are on how she fits into Clark’s ever-expanding spotlight.
According to a post on X by Correlation, Sophie Cunningham revealed on the Sports & SHEnanigans podcast that she was approached to join Unrivaled but declined in favor of her offseason broadcasting role.
“More that people get to learn and care about the people who are playing in the leagues than their followers, and then they want to know what we’re all doing. And so I did get asked to be a part of it. I respectfully declined it just because I also do broadcasting for the Sun. And so the money situation—I am making more doing broadcasting than that right now.”
Unrivaled’s minimum offer exceeds $200K, making Cunningham’s decision a notable one. In a league where salaries remain a constant talking point, her choice highlights the economic trade-offs many players face. The fact that broadcasting brings in more than Unrivaled’s offer also highlights the ongoing financial disparities in women’s basketball.
Sophie says she got asked to do Unrivaled but had to respectfully decline because she makes more doing Suns broadcasting during the offseason pic.twitter.com/YmbXvIUh1Z
— correlation (@nosyone4) February 13, 2025
Cunningham’s arrival in Indiana was part of a major four-team trade. The Fever acquired her and the No. 19 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft from the Phoenix Mercury while also receiving Jaelyn Brown from the Dallas Wings. In return, Indiana sent NaLyssa Smith to the Wings, while the Connecticut Sun acquired the Fever’s No. 8 selection in the upcoming draft.
Fever General Manager Amber Cox didn’t hold back in her praise for Cunningham.“Sophie is a player that we have targeted for a while and one that we believe is a perfect fit for the style we want to play. She is a fierce competitor, works incredibly hard on both ends of the floor, and is one of the best shooters in our league. We are excited to add her to our squad.”
But beyond her reputation as a sharpshooter and fierce competitor, Cunningham is stepping into a locker room that’s already a media circus.
Caitlin Clark’s Spotlight Shines Bright—Can Indiana’s Newest Addition Thrive?
Something that is the result of having a superstar like Caitlin Clark on the roster. Cunningham, for her part, seems ready to embrace the spotlight alongside her new teammate. The franchise, which had struggled for years to gain traction, now finds itself in the national spotlight thanks to its generational rookie.
Cunningham, however, seems eager to embrace the attention—and the role of Clark’s co-star. “I will be her Sabrina Carpenter any day, to her Taylor Swift. Like, I am so excited for this. I just think, honestly, she’s (Caitlin Clark) just a great human too. She has a lot of pressure and a lot of eyes on her shoulders, and she handles it so gracefully, and she’s just a great human. So I’m just excited to be a part of something like that, and she passes the ball, which I enjoy.”
Jul 6, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) watch a free throw at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-USA TODAY Sports
The metaphor is fitting—Clark, much like Swift, commands attention wherever she goes, and Cunningham seems more than willing to embrace the role of co-star. However, the reality of stepping into a locker room filled with both expectation and transition brings its own set of challenges. Clark’s role as the centerpiece of the franchise means every move—on and off the court—will be scrutinized. Kelsey Mitchell has known that well.
How Cunningham and the rest of the Fever roster navigate that dynamic will be pivotal to their success in the coming season.
Statistically, Cunningham’s career numbers—7.7 points per game on 42.2% shooting, with a solid 36.2% from three—suggest she can provide the spacing and shooting Indiana needs to complement Clark’s playmaking. But beyond the numbers, her veteran presence will be crucial in helping Clark adjust to the grind of the W.
The Fever is building something new, and in this evolving landscape, every move matters—on and off the court.
The post Unrivaled’s 6-Figure Offer Not Big Enough for Indiana Star as Locker Room Drama Awaits Caitlin Clark appeared first on EssentiallySports.
