The two teams that could separate Sophie Cunningham from Caitlin Clark and give her the contract she wants

Sophie Cunningham will be one of the names to watch in the upcoming WNBA free agency. Portland Fire and Los Angeles Sparks have been mentioned as possible teams interested in the veteran shooting guard, although for now there is no official confirmation of contacts or negotiations. Indiana Fever, meanwhile, continues to appear as the main option to retain her, with the length of the next contract being one of the decisive factors.

Cunningham finished the 2026 season averaging 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 43 appearances. She also made 41.9% of her three-pointers and was Indiana’s leading scorer off the bench, numbers that maintain her value within a team built around Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.

A multi-year contract, the key condition

The length of the agreement is no minor detail for Cunningham. In April, she signed for one season with the Fever, on a reported $665,000 contract, and later clarified that her dissatisfaction was not related to the salary. “I just wanted more years because I love being here”, she explained at the time, noting that she was looking to establish herself permanently in Indiana.

The player also confirmed that she had received multi-year offers from other teams before deciding to remain with the Fever in 2026. At that time, Cunningham prioritized staying with a group where she felt comfortable, even though other destinations offered the contractual security she was looking for.

Indiana expressed interest in keeping her after the playoff elimination. Amber Cox, then the franchise's general manager, highlighted her leadership, experience, and ability to connect the locker room, in addition to her two seasons of strong perimeter play. However, Cox left her position on October 23, and the Fever began a nationwide search to find her replacement, a change that adds another variable to the team's decisions for 2027.

Portland and Los Angeles now appear among the possible alternatives for Cunningham, but it is still a market scenario. So far, there is no announced agreement or public confirmation that either of the two teams has initiated formal talks with the player.

Cunningham arrived in Indiana from Phoenix before the 2025 season and remained with the Fever for two campaigns. After recovering from the medial collateral ligament injury that prematurely ended her 2025 season, she returned in 2026 and once again established herself as one of the second unit’s main perimeter threats.

For now, there is no new contract announced. 

Cunningham will be able to assess the market as an unrestricted free agent and, if Indiana intends to keep her alongside Clark and the rest of its core, the length of the offer appears to be one of the central points of the negotiation.

 Portland Fire and Los Angeles Sparks appear as possibilities, but their interest will have to be confirmed when free agency begins to formally move.