Sophie Cunningham drew some criticism earlier this week over the best way she reacted to information that the WNBA is increasing, and the Indiana Fever guard has since tried to make clear her stance.
The WNBA introduced on Monday that the league has plans to broaden to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia for the 2028 season. When requested in regards to the information, Cunningham questioned whether or not the suitable cities have been chosen for brand new WNBA groups. She instructed that Miami, Nashville and Kansas Metropolis may need been higher selections as a result of there’s extra to do in these cities.
“I don’t understand how excited persons are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” Cunningham stated.
Followers in Detroit and Cleveland weren’t proud of the feedback. Cunningham was even called out by a Detroit Lions player.
Cunningham then backtracked on Thursday — kind of.
“To start with, I do know the historical past behind the WNBA. I do know that each of these cities have had groups earlier than and so they obtained us to the place we’re at, so I’m grateful for that,” she stated, through Tony East. “All I used to be actually getting at is, like, Broadway, the off-court life-style, so I feel that’s actually intriguing. I feel Miami is intriguing. That’s all I used to be getting at.”
Cunningham added that she thinks there is likely to be some profit to having WNBA groups in cities that don’t have already got NBA groups. She stated she meant no disrespect to individuals who dwell in Detroit and Cleveland.
“I feel folks completely misinterpret that state of affairs. I might by no means communicate down upon middle-class, blue-collar working folks,” Cunningham stated. “That’s the place I come from. I’m from Missouri. I get that I’m in Indiana, and that’s form of why I’m hinting at Broadway sounds enjoyable, Miami sounds enjoyable. That’s all I used to be getting at.”
