Sophie Cunningham has been taking heat for her comments about WNBA expansion cities. But after playing at TD Garden, the Indiana Fever guard had a completely different message: Boston needs its own team. With the WNBA adding Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo for 2026, and plans to reach 18 teams by 2030, could Boston be next on the expansion list?
Has Sophie Cunningham Changed Her Stance on WNBA’s Expansion Bid?
The WNBA unveiled the name and logo of its newest team, the Portland Fire, yesterday. Portland will join the WNBA in the 2026 season alongside the Toronto Tempo as the fever for expansion is running high in the league.
The women’s game has seen accelerated growth, especially over the past two years, and the league is making sure to capitalize on the opportunity. While the Golden State Valkyries became the 13th team of the WNBA this season, commissioner Cathy Engelbert looks far from done.
However, it appears that won’t be enough either, as the calls for a franchise get louder in Boston. Cunningham wasn’t the biggest fan of the recent expansion choices. “I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” Cunningham had said last month. The player later clarified that her comments were in the context of the “off-court lifestyle” of the cities and not an attempt to disparage their basketball legacies.
But, after the Fever secured a victory against the Connecticut Sun at the TD Garden, Cunningham expressed the excitement of playing in Boston. “I thought it was a lot of fun, to be honest. You know, there’s so much history in this building,” said the Missouri native.
Sophie Cunningham says postgame that tonight’s game at TD Garden felt like a home game for the Fever, and that Boston should have its own WNBA team:
“…I’ve gotten some heat for saying something about cities, but I like Boston, man! I really like Boston. Y’all need to get a team… pic.twitter.com/VONPHBfbdA
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) July 16, 2025
Cunningham went a step further, suggesting the city should be getting its own team. “I’ve gotten some heat from saying stuff about cities, but I like Boston, man. I really like Boston. Y’all need to get a team here,” she said while laughing.
What Makes Boston’s Case for WNBA Expansion So Strong?
While the calls for a WNBA franchise in Boston aren’t new, the consistently high turnouts are now reigniting them. The Connecticut Sun have played two games at the TD Garden, one in 2024 against the Los Angeles Sparks and the other against Cunningham’s Fever yesterday. Both games sold out with over 19,000 fans in attendance, demonstrating a strong appetite for women’s professional basketball in the Boston market.
Despite the interest, league commissioner Engelbert stated in April that the WNBA has not received bids for expansion from Boston. But with Boston Women’s Basketball Partners spokesperson AJ Gerritson saying they are “ready to apply for an expansion team when the league is again ready to accept applications,” basketball in Boston might see a new chapter.
However, the league will also need to consider the market implications of a franchise in Boston. Due to the close proximity to the Connecticut Sun, there have been concerns around another franchise in New England as they might draw fans away from the Sun. While a team in Boston seems exciting, the league will need to be patient and make sure the expansion is one that is sustainable.
