Sophie Cunningham: "Call me Patrick Mahomes from now on"
The Indiana Fever guard responded on X to a video from the club in which she sends a ball into the second tier of the stands.
Sophie Cunningham wrote on Wednesday on X: "Call me Patrick Mahomes from now on," quoting the Fever’s post with a video of her throwing a ball to the second level of the stands at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. "Sophie Cunningham THREW this ball all the way to the second level," the team’s message said. Cunningham is an outspoken Kansas City Chiefs fan , Mahomes’s team, three-time Super Bowl champions.
The throw came after Indiana's 96-77 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, September 22. Cunningham played 29 minutes and scored 11 points.
Cunningham could be out of the league by 2027.
Sophie Cunningham has a new nickname, but also a question mark that could shape her future in the WNBA . The Indiana Fever player might not remain with the team next season and her future in the league could even be in doubt.
Analyst Robin Lundberg predicted that Cunningham will not be with the Fever next season and that she could be out of the WNBA. "If I had to predict it, Sophie Cunningham will not be with the Indiana Fever next year. And there is a possibility that she will not be in the league", he said. He acknowledged her performance, but added: "When you say that practices are too hard and then play seven minutes in the next game, people are going to say: "hmmm"".
'Sophie had spoken about the practices on her podcast "No Hesitation" , in an episode aired on September 17. "We keep practicing about two hours against the guys, going hard. And we still have four games left", Cunningham said. She also posed: "Why can't we do it in an hour and 20 or in an hour and 30? Why does it have to be two hours?". In the same episode she clarified that she likes to practice and that "everyone has their own style".'
Three days later, on Sunday, September 20, I ndiana Fever fell 93-77 to the Washington Mystics at home, in a game in which they underperformed.
The guard played seven minutes, missed both of her shots, did not record any stats, and finished with a Fever -11 , the worst mark on the team . Coach Stephanie White said after the game that "they needed some defensive help" and that they were looking for which group gave them the best option.
Against the Lynx , Cunningham played 29 minutes again. It was her best production in weeks and her biggest role in more than a month, according to Yardbarker. This season she is averaging 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 22.7 minutes per game, all off the bench.
'Lundberg also referred to her activity off the court. "She is laying the groundwork for her post-playing career with the podcast. Obviously, she is extraordinarily popular and is very good at giving her unfiltered opinion. No team wants to be constantly talking about what one of its players said. Especially when she is a role player", he said. At the end of July, Cunningham signed with Groov, a custom template company, in a deal that includes an equity stake .'
The Fever (28-15) close the regular season this Thursday, September 24, in Minneapolis , once again against the Lynx. According to ClutchPoints, Indiana needs to win to secure fourth place and home-court advantage in the first round. The playoffs begin on Sunday, according to the Star Tribune.
