Sophie Cunningham, a professional basketball player known for her outspoken nature, has recently made headlines for her strong opposition to the WNBA’s plans to add teams in Cleveland and Detroit. In a recent interview, Cunningham was quoted saying, “Adding teams in Cleveland and Detroit? Are they trying to punish us or something? Those cities are known for their sports teams, but let’s be real, basketball just isn’t their thing.”
Cunningham went on to express her concerns about the competitiveness of the league if more teams are added in cities that she believes lack a strong basketball culture. “I mean, come on, Cleveland and Detroit? What’s next, a team in Antarctica? I just don’t see how this is going to benefit the league in any way.”
When asked about the potential impact on player salaries with the addition of more teams, Cunningham responded with a laugh, “Oh, I’m sure they’ll find a way to pay us in hot dogs and beer at this rate. Maybe we can start a new trend of players bartering for court time with pizza slices.”
In response to Cunningham’s comments, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert released a statement saying, “We value Sophie’s input and appreciate her passion for the game. However, we believe that expanding our reach to cities like Cleveland and Detroit will only serve to grow the sport and attract new fans.”
Despite the backlash, the WNBA is moving forward with its plans to add teams in Cleveland and Detroit, with the hope of increasing the league’s visibility and expanding its fan base. Only time will tell if Cunningham’s concerns were warranted, or if these new teams will prove to be a slam dunk for the WNBA.
