Sophie Cunningham knows that rapid growth comes with a price.
When league officials announced plans to expand the regular season to 50 games in 2027, the Indiana Fever veteran weighed in with a mix of humor and support.
The WNBA announced Wednesday that it will increase the schedule from 44 to 50 games next season. The move comes after the league ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that allows up to 50 games over the next two seasons and 52 games beginning in 2029.
What Sophie Cunningham Thinks About the WNBA’s 50-Game Season
Cunningham admitted that a longer season will be tougher on players’ bodies but said it was a consequence of the league’s long-term ambitions.
With player salaries rising and the league becoming more successful, Cunningham felt the players should be ready to handle the extra workload that comes with it.
“Yeah, you know, my knees are already starting to hurt a little bit more. I’m just going to say that,” she said. “But I do say, you know, if we’re going to be getting paid that amount of money, then you’re expected to play more games.”
“My knees are already starting to hurt a little bit more” 😂
Sophie and the crew on the WNBA season expanding to 50 games in 2027, up from 32 games when Chamique was playing in 1999 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/o4Z9kAQlvN
— USA Sports (@usasports) June 17, 2026
She added, “I think it’s fair. I think you’re going to see the season expand into November. And so I’m all for it. I think if you’re getting paid that, then you’ve got to put a product out there for longer for people to enjoy. So I’m all for it.”
Addressing the schedule expansion, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “This move reflects our commitment to growing the game and creating more opportunities for fans to watch the best players in the world and experience the extraordinary talent and competition that define the WNBA.”
The longer schedule is part of several big changes being implemented.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap will rise from about $1.5 million to $7 million. Average player salaries will also increase significantly, from around $120,000 to $600,000.
The league has also been adding new teams, and the Toronto Tempo became the league’s 14th franchise this season.
Three more teams are expected to join between 2028 and 2030. At the same time, more broadcasters are getting involved, with NBC and Amazon joining ESPN and CBS Sports in game coverage.
Meanwhile, Cunningham continues to make an impact for Indiana. Coming off the bench against Toronto on Tuesday, she had her best offensive game of the season, recording 24 points and going 6-of-7 from beyond the arc to help the Fever to a 113-91 win.
After the game, she revealed the story behind her new 3-point celebration, revealing it was inspired by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams.
“I don’t know. I think I gotta need a little shoutout to JDub from the Thunder,” Cunningham said. “He was starting it, so I was like, ‘I like that.'”
Grabbing their fourth consecutive victory, Indiana will now prepare for back-to-back games against the Atlanta Dream, starting Thursday.
