The WNBA’s glow-up has gone full-blown spotlight. And not everyone can handle the heat. With rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese drawing in eyeballs and dollar signs at a historic pace, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is speaking up and shutting down the noise.
Sophie Cunningham Claps Back at Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark Haters
The rise of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has taken the WNBA from a respected league to one that’s breaking the sports media matrix. We’re talking 170% viewership jumps, a mind-blowing $2.2 billion media rights deal and record-setting games, including a 2.3 million-viewer showdown between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky.
And Sophie Cunningham is all for the hype.
But not everyone’s been celebrating. Some WNBA insiders hinted at jealousy brewing from older players who didn’t get the same love, spotlight, or paycheck.
Well, Cunningham didn’t just toss that shade out the window; she made sure to address the haters. At a recent watch party hosted by Quest Nutrition, she said: “I just think that if you are kind of being a hater or you’re jealous, that you’re not in it for the right reason.”
Concerns Remain About Clark, Reese’s Impact on WNBA
Here’s what’s wild: despite the massive jump in ratings, fan engagement, and cultural visibility, WNBA salaries haven’t caught up yet. With the $200 million generated by the WNBA in 2025, the perks aren’t on that level. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was locked in back in 2020, and that’s pre-Clark-mania, pre-Reese-rage, and way before the league became a must-watch brand.
Players like Cunningham, who sit on the players’ association board, are pushing hard for change. “It’s time for our league and other companies to up their ante a little bit too, and support and put their money where their mouth is,” she said.
There’s talk of a potential opt-out and even whispers of a lockout if the league doesn’t align compensation with the 500%+ growth it’s been flexing. But as Sophie pointed out, a lockout might not even be an option: “There’s always a chance of a lockout, but I also think that where we’re at in the W right now, they can’t afford that.”
Whether it’s Cunningham calling it out, or Clark and Reese doing the heavy lifting on the court. The message is clear, women’s basketball is not a side show anymore. It’s the main event.
With players like Paige Bueckers ready to join the league in 2025, fans and players continue to hope for a positive outcome.