The Indiana Fever are campaigning for Sophie Cunningham to win the “6th Player of the Year Award,” honoring the league’s top contributor off the bench. The team’s social media post highlighted her 8.4 points per game, a career-high 47.6% shooting, and 44.1% from 3-point range, the third-best rate in the WNBA this season.
The push for Cunningham, however, quickly drew criticism from parts of the WNBA community. Her candidacy has become intertwined with the debate over transgender athletes that she helped ignite last month.
Fever Facing Backlash After Sophie Cunningham’s Viral Post Reopens Heated WNBA Gender Debate
Cunningham entered that debate last month when she said she wanted to protect women’s sports. In an interview with ESPN, the eight-year veteran argued that biological men should not compete against women.
That stance has added another layer to her candidacy for an award whose name no longer specifically refers to women.
The Fever have embraced the league’s current “Sixth Player of the Year” terminology while promoting Cunningham for the honor, a move that some fans immediately questioned.
Sophie Cunningham for 6th Player of the Year 😮💨
she has been averaging 8.4 PPG, 47.6 FG% (career high) & 44.1 3P% (no. 3 in the WNBA & career high) this season. pic.twitter.com/83IPeihXXv
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 28, 2026
“Why don’t they call it 6th woman of the year?” an account dedicated to NBA star Kyrie Irving questioned.
why dont they call it 6th woman of the year? https://t.co/L5bGYl0m3S
— KyrieTribesman🤞🏾 (@KyrieTribesman) August 28, 2026
“January 6th Woman of the Year?” a freelance sports photographer wondered.
“Wtf is ‘6th player of the year ’? Y’all couldn’t just say the ‘6th woman of the year,’ an NBA supporter urged.
“Why isn’t it the 6th Woman of the Year? Are they going to call the league the PNBA now?” another NBA observer added.
Why isnt it the 6th Woman of the year? Are they going to call the league the PNBA now?
— JV (@Vo0rheez) August 28, 2026
The reaction was not limited to sports supporters.
“Why isn’t it called 6th Woman of the Year?” one user asked.
Why isn’t it called 6th Woman of the Year?
— ReviveTheROAR (@ReviveTheROAR) August 28, 2026
“A part of the problem in the WNBA is they refuse to call the 6th Player of the Year the 6th WOMAN of the year. This league is so captured by leftist ideologies and politics,” political commentator Jon Root added.
A part of the problem in the WNBA is they refuse to call the 6th Player of the Year the 6th WOMAN of the year.
This league is so captured by leftist ideologies and politics… https://t.co/ACqPou1U0n
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) August 28, 2026
The WNBA originally called the honor the “Sixth Woman of the Year” when it was introduced in 2007 for the league’s most valuable contributor off the bench. The league changed the name to “Sixth Player of the Year” in 2021.
DeWanna Bonner, who joined the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, holds the record for most selections with three.
This year, Cunningham is competing against a strong field.
Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün has emerged as a leading candidate, averaging 12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 1.2 apg while shooting 42.5%, including 39.7% from 3-point range.
Cunningham has a legitimate case for the award, and the Fever clearly believes her numbers make that case. But with her name already tied to one of the WNBA’s most divisive debates, even a campaign for an individual honor has become part of a more polarizing conversation.
Now, Cunningham’s play will have to do the talking while the debate around her continues off the court.
