WNBA Analyst Urges Fever to Ditch Cunningham for Focus

WHO:

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated, "This was the season when the Fever and even the whole Caitlin Clark experience took a backseat to a bench player with big opinions."

Fox News - Enes Kanter Freedom criticized the perceived "double standard" in the WNBA regarding support for Cunningham.

Pro Football Network - Linda Cohn defended Sophie Cunningham, stating, "There's a great deal of media that truly despises Cunningham and her supporters."

Sportskeeda - Martina Navratilova expressed support for Cunningham, stating, "The W in WNBA stands for women," amid calls for her removal from the Fever.

Fox News - Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever guard

Fox News - A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces forward

Fox News - Candace Buckner, columnist for The Athletic

Pro Football Network - Linda Cohn, former ESPN anchor

WHAT:

Fox News - The Indiana Fever's playoff viewership increased significantly, contributing to the league's record first-round ratings.

Fox News - Cunningham's signature sneakers sold out on Adidas' website on their first day.

Fox News - Cunningham's three-point shooting percentage is .419, ranking fifth in the WNBA, and her true shooting percentage is .654, ranking third.

Pro Football Network - The Indiana Fever's playoff viewership increased significantly, contributing to the league's record first-round ratings.

Pro Football Network - "The Caitlin Clark Effect" was noted as drawing 3.7 million viewers for her "College GameDay" appearance.

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated, "If the Fever ever want to go back to being a basketball team again and follow the lead of rivals openly clashing with the forces trying to hijack their league, then (Sophie) Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Buckner described Cunningham as "combustible" and claimed her presence has created a "circus" around the Fever.

Fox News - Buckner suggested that Cunningham could play in Chicago, Portland, or Toronto, or become a "professional UFC ring girl."

Fox News - Buckner stated that if the Fever wants to focus on basketball, "Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Buckner referred to the Trump administration's X account sharing a meme of Cunningham as a sign that "things took a wrong turn."

Fox News - Buckner claimed that Cunningham's positions have spawned a "circus" due to figures like women's-sports activist Riley Gaines attending her games.

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "I hands down have probably got s— on the entire season... it's part of it," regarding the criticism she has faced.

Fox News - Cunningham expressed her views on a podcast, stating, "I hands down have probably got s— on the entire season... it's part of it."

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated, "This was the season when the Fever and even the whole Caitlin Clark experience took a backseat to a bench player with big opinions."

Fox News - Buckner described Cunningham as the second-most popular player in the WNBA and the least popular in certain media circles.

Fox News - Buckner claimed that Cunningham's positions have spawned a "circus" due to figures like women's-sports activist Riley Gaines attending her games.

Fox News - Buckner suggested that Cunningham could play in Chicago, Portland, or Toronto, or become a "professional UFC ring girl."

Fox News - Cunningham's signature sneakers sold out on Adidas' website on their first day.

Fox News - Cunningham has 4.4 million followers on TikTok and 4.3 million on Instagram.

Fox News - The Fever lost to the Aces in the playoffs, with Wilson scoring 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the final game.

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated, "If the Fever ever want to go back to being a basketball team again... then (Sophie) Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Buckner described Cunningham as a "bench player with big opinions" and claimed that her presence has created a "circus" around the Fever.

Fox News - Buckner suggested that Cunningham should consider playing in Chicago, Portland, or Toronto, or potentially becoming a "professional UFC ring girl" if she leaves basketball.

Fox News - Buckner stated that if the Fever wants to focus on basketball, "Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Cunningham's three-point shooting percentage is .419, ranking fifth in the WNBA, and her true shooting percentage is .654, ranking third.

Fox News - Cunningham's signature sneakers sold out on Adidas' website on their first day.

Fox News - Cunningham has 4.4 million followers on TikTok and 4.3 million on Instagram.

Fox News - The Fever lost to the Aces in the playoffs, with Wilson scoring 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the final game.

Pro Football Network - Linda Cohn defended Sophie Cunningham amid criticism, stating, "There's a great deal of media that truly despises Cunningham and her supporters."

Fox News - Candace Buckner wrote, "If the Fever ever want to go back to being a basketball team again and follow the lead of rivals openly clashing with the forces trying to hijack their league, then (Sophie) Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Buckner referred to the Trump administration's X account sharing a meme of Cunningham as a sign that "things took a wrong turn."

Fox News - Buckner claimed that Cunningham's positions have spawned a "circus" due to figures like women's-sports activist Riley Gaines attending her games.

Fox News - Sophie Cunningham called out A’ja Wilson and told the WNBA outrage mob to "GROW UP!" over the viral fan drama.

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated, "This was the season when the Fever and even the whole Caitlin Clark experience took a backseat to a bench player with big opinions."

Fox News - Buckner described Cunningham as "combustible" and claimed her presence has created a "circus" around the Fever.

Fox News - Buckner suggested that Cunningham could play in Chicago, Portland, or Toronto, or become a "professional UFC ring girl."

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated, "If the Fever ever want to go back to being a basketball team again... then (Sophie) Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Buckner described Cunningham as a "bench player with big opinions" and claimed that her presence has created a "circus" around the Fever.

Fox News - Buckner suggested that Cunningham should consider playing in Chicago, Portland, or Toronto, or potentially becoming a "professional UFC ring girl" if she leaves basketball.

Fox News - Candace Buckner stated that if the Fever wants to focus on basketball, "Cunningham has to go."

Fox News - Cunningham is described as the second-most popular player in the WNBA and the least popular in certain media circles.

Fox News - Cunningham's three-point shooting percentage is .419, ranking fifth in the WNBA, and her true shooting percentage is .654, ranking third.

Fox News - Cunningham's signature sneakers sold out on Adidas' website on their first day.

Fox News - Cunningham has 4.4 million followers on TikTok and 4.3 million on Instagram.

Fox News - The Fever lost to the Aces in the playoffs, with Wilson scoring 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the final game.

WHERE:

Fox News - Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Fox News - Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs was held at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WHEN:

Fox News - Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs occurred on September 29, 2026.

Fox News - Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs took place on September 27, 2026.

WHY:

Fox News - Buckner argued that Cunningham's outspoken nature has become a distraction for the Fever, preventing them from prioritizing basketball.

Fox News - Candace Buckner argued that Cunningham's outspoken nature has become a distraction for the Fever, preventing them from prioritizing basketball.

Sportskeeda - Enes Kanter Freedom criticized the perceived "double standard" in the WNBA regarding support for Cunningham.

Fox News - Buckner argues that Cunningham's outspoken nature has become a distraction for the Fever, preventing them from prioritizing basketball.

Fox News - Cunningham believes that WNBA players need to "grow thicker skin" to be held in the same regard as their male counterparts.

HOW:

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "If WNBA players want to be held in the same regard as their male counterparts, they have to learn to accept the heat that comes with being a professional athlete."

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "I hands down have probably got s— on the entire season... it's part of it," regarding the criticism she has faced.

Sportskeeda - Martina Navratilova expressed support for Cunningham, stating, "The W in WNBA stands for women," amid calls for her removal from the Fever.

Fox News - Cunningham stated, "I hands down have probably got s— on the entire season... it's part of it," regarding the criticism she has faced.

Fox News - Cunningham responded to criticism by stating, "I hands down have probably got s— on the entire season... it's part of it."

Fox News - Cunningham expressed her views on a podcast, stating, "I hands down have probably got s— on the entire season... it's part of it."

The Indiana Fever's playoff viewership has surged, contributing to the WNBA's record first-round ratings, while Cunningham's signature sneakers sold out on Adidas' website within hours. Despite her impressive stats, including a three-point shooting percentage of .419 and a true shooting percentage of .654, some believe her outspoken nature is distracting the Fever from focusing on basketball. Enes Kanter Freedom has also weighed in, criticizing what he sees as a double standard in the league regarding support for Cunningham, who recently stated that WNBA players must embrace the challenges of being professional athletes.