When Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham recently voiced her skepticism over the WNBA’s expansion into the cities of Cleveland and Detroit, the reaction from both cities was swift, fierce, and unrelenting. What began as a personal comment spiraled into a full-blown civic backlash, igniting fierce regional pride and raising broader questions about inclusivity, growth, and respect within professional sports. Cunningham’s remarks—delivered with an unmistakable tone of doubt—touched a nerve not just among basketball fans, but civic leaders, athletes, and residents who saw her words as more than a simple opinion. To many, they were an insult—a dismissal of two cities with deep basketball roots and a hunger to return to the women’s professional basketball stage.
Cunningham, a known competitor and fiery presence on the court, didn’t mince words when she questioned the WNBA’s decision to add franchises in Cleveland and Detroit. Her comments came during a postgame interview in which she appeared to express confusion and disappointment over the league’s expansion choices. “Cleveland? Detroit? I don’t know what we’re doing,” she said, a smirk briefly crossing her face. “Are those really the best markets for women’s basketball?” Her remark may have been offhand, but it reverberated like a thunderclap. Instantly, social media erupted. Fans from Ohio and Michigan flooded the comment sections with photos of packed high school gyms, college arenas brimming with energy, and nostalgic throwbacks to the days when Detroit Shock brought home a WNBA title.
Cleveland’s response was immediate and deeply rooted in the city’s proud basketball tradition. This is a city that has seen the likes of LeBron James rise from local phenom to global icon. It is a place where basketball isn’t just a sport—it’s an identity. City officials wasted no time defending their home. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb posted a sharply worded rebuttal on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Cleveland is a city that shows up for its teams—period. Sophie Cunningham might want to take a closer look at our sold-out crowds and championship history before casting judgment.” The message was clear: Cleveland doesn’t need validation—it needs respect.
The backlash wasn’t just limited to politicians. Prominent Cleveland athletes weighed in, including Cavs legend and Akron native LeBron James, who reposted a viral clip of packed basketball stands in Ohio with the caption, “Ohio BUILDS hoopers. Don’t play with us.” Cleveland sports radio stations dissected Cunningham’s comments for days, and local news outlets ran segments highlighting the city’s grassroots basketball programs, from AAU to college hoops. The point wasn’t simply to push back against one WNBA player—it was to remind the world that Cleveland is, and always has been, a basketball town.
Detroit’s response was equally passionate, perhaps even more so. After all, this is the city that gave birth to the Detroit Shock—a franchise that not only competed in the WNBA but dominated it, winning three championships in the 2000s. Though the team eventually relocated and became the Dallas Wings, the memory of the Shock is still vivid in the minds of Detroit basketball fans. Sophie Cunningham’s comments felt like an erasure of that legacy, and Detroit wasn’t having it.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan addressed the controversy head-on during a city council meeting, where he declared, “Detroit has always been a championship city. From the Pistons to the Shock to Cass Tech and Renaissance High, we know basketball here. Sophie Cunningham can question us all she wants, but we don’t question our greatness.” His words were met with applause and quickly went viral. Detroit fans began flooding the WNBA’s official accounts with reminders of their city’s vibrant sports culture, complete with photos of Shock championship banners and highlights of Chauncey Billups and Deanna Nolan igniting the hardwood.
Local media tapped into the city’s pride. Sports anchors ran retrospective features on the legacy of the Detroit Shock, showcasing their 2003, 2006, and 2008 title runs. Interviews with former players, including Cheryl Ford and Katie Smith, brought the city’s hoops history to the forefront. “We had one of the best fanbases in the league,” Smith said in a televised interview. “Detroit showed up, showed out, and deserved better than to be forgotten—or questioned.” Even the Detroit Pistons’ social media team got in on the action, posting a graphic of a lion growling with the words, “Don’t sleep on Detroit. We remember everything.”
The backlash to Cunningham’s remarks also raised a wider conversation about the role of current players in shaping the WNBA’s future. As the league grows, so too does the responsibility of its players to uplift and unite rather than divide. Critics of Cunningham argued that while players are entitled to their opinions, they also serve as ambassadors of the sport. Negative comments—especially those rooted in regional bias or ignorance—can alienate potential fan bases and stall the very growth the league is aiming for.
Former WNBA players like Sue Bird and Swin Cash chimed in subtly, posting messages emphasizing unity and expansion. “Growth means opening new doors, not closing old ones,” Bird tweeted. Cash, who won a title with the Detroit Shock, simply posted a trophy emoji with the caption, “Detroit remembers.” It was a powerful statement—short, but deeply resonant. Fans and media members alike praised these responses for reinforcing the WNBA’s inclusive mission and the importance of honoring its past while looking toward the future.
Interestingly, Cunningham has yet to issue a full apology, though she later clarified her statements in a follow-up interview, claiming her comments were “taken out of context” and that she was simply surprised, not dismissive. “I love this league, and I want it to thrive everywhere,” she said. “I just didn’t expect Cleveland and Detroit to be next. But if they’re bringing the energy, I’m all for it.” The statement did little to quell the storm. In fact, many interpreted it as backpedaling rather than true accountability.
In the days that followed, both Cleveland and Detroit embraced the controversy as a rallying cry. Merchandise popped up online with slogans like “Cleveland Is Always Game” and “Detroit vs. Everybody—Especially Sophie.” Fans printed T-shirts, created digital art, and launched fan campaigns to show their cities’ readiness to embrace the WNBA once again. One Cleveland group even started a petition to name their future franchise after a local hero, with support from former Cavs players and civic leaders. In Detroit, former Shock fans began sharing childhood memories of attending games at the Palace of Auburn Hills, flooding timelines with hope for the return of their beloved team.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert remained diplomatic throughout the firestorm, offering support for expansion while choosing not to directly address Cunningham’s remarks. “Cleveland and Detroit represent exciting new chapters for our league,” she said at a recent press event. “They have the infrastructure, the passion, and the history to succeed—and that’s exactly what we’re betting on.” Her words echoed the optimism shared by most in the women’s basketball community, many of whom believe expansion is not just a business decision but a moral and cultural one.
At its core, the backlash to Sophie Cunningham’s comments was about more than geography—it was about respect. Respect for cities that have long been underestimated. Respect for fans who have shown up, even when the spotlight wasn’t on them. And respect for the legacy of women’s basketball, which was built not just in the league’s biggest markets, but also in the hearts of cities like Cleveland and Detroit. Cunningham’s words, whether intentionally inflammatory or not, served as a reminder that every city matters—and that no community should be dismissed out of hand when it comes to growing the game.
As the WNBA moves forward with its plans to expand, one thing is clear: Cleveland and Detroit are not waiting for approval. They’re ready. They’re energized. And they’re not letting one player’s doubts diminish their potential. Instead, they’ve used her skepticism as fuel, reigniting fan bases that had been waiting patiently—and now demand to be heard. If the WNBA is truly a league of growth, grit, and greatness, then cities like Cleveland and Detroit are exactly where that future should be written.
