The Indiana Fever made some big moves this offseason, bringing in a new head coach and a handful of established WNBA stars to complement an already talented roster. One of the most exciting additions has to be Sophie Cunningham, a high-energy guard capable of contributing in multiple facets.
With 197 WNBA games (regular season and playoffs) to her name, Cunningham offers experience, a defensive presence, and an excellent long-range shooter to a Fever team looking to make the leap and join the league’s top-tier teams. The 28-year-old, however, did not come cheap, and she will be Indiana’s fourth-highest-paid player in 2025, earning more than players like Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Lexie Hull.
Sophie Cunningham’s WNBA Contract
Cunningham is entering her seventh season in the league. The former Phoenix Mercury player was part of a blockbuster trade in February that involved the Fever, Mercury, Dallas Wings, and the Connecticut Sun, and saw former first-round pick NaLyssa Smith leave Indiana.
Cunningham signed a one-year, $100,000 extension for 2025. The salary is a significant amount for the Fever’s payroll, but less than what Cunningham earned in 2023 and 2024 on a two-year, $304,500 deal.
Cunningham’s Career Earnings
Cunningham was a star athlete at the University of Missouri. She was rewarded for her hard work when the Mercury drafted her with the 13th pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. After making the jump to the pros, Cunningham signed a four-year, $189,522 rookie contract with Phoenix that started in 2019. She earned a base salary of $75,000 in 2022.
In 2023, her salary jumped to $150,000 after the Mercury extended the guard on a two-year, $304,500 deal. The 2024 season, where she earned $154,500 in base salary, was her highest-earning year.
Overall, Cunningham has made $537,780 in base salary over her career, and that number will jump to $637,780 following the 2025 campaign.
Cunningham’s Stats
Cunningham had a slow start to her WNBA career, averaging just 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game during her rookie season. However, as her minutes went up, so did her production, and Cunningham improved significantly over the next few seasons.
In 2022, the Missouri native averaged 12.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, and 1.0 steals per game over 20 starts. In 2023, she started 31 games and contributed with 11.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, and 2.1 apg.
Cunningham’s numbers dropped off in 2024, but a change of scenery could help the talented shooter revive her old form. With a backcourt that consists of Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Sydney Colson, Jaelyn Brown, Hull, and Cunningham, Indiana boasts one of the most talented groups of guards in the WNBA.
