Backlash Erupts After Sophie Cunningham Questions WNBA Expansion to Cleveland and Detroit—Forced to Clarify After Being Dubbed “MAGA Barbie”

What began as a seemingly casual pregame comment from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham quickly spiraled into one of the most talked-about controversies of the week in women’s basketball. During a media availability session before the Fever’s 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup Final, Cunningham expressed doubts about the WNBA’s decision to expand to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia over cities she deemed more “exciting.” Her words ignited a firestorm of criticism—leading to public responses from city leaders, professional athletes, and fans across the country.

WNBA Expansion Sparks Debate

On Monday, the WNBA officially announced that the league will expand from 12 to 18 teams by 2030, with three new franchises scheduled to launch in the following cities:

Cleveland (2028)

Detroit (2029)

Philadelphia (2030)

This is a significant moment for the league, as it marks the largest growth spurt in league history. The announcement was widely celebrated, especially in Cleveland and Detroit—cities with rich basketball legacies and blue-collar fanbases that have long supported professional sports.

But Cunningham, a seven-year WNBA veteran who joined Indiana this season after six years with the Phoenix Mercury, wasn’t so enthusiastic. Her comments, delivered during a shootaround interview before the Cup Final, seemed to question the excitement and entertainment value of the cities selected.

“You want to listen to your players, too. Where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans? I do think that Miami would have been a great (location). Nashville is an amazing city. Kansas City, amazing opportunity.”

While she didn’t directly insult Cleveland or Detroit, her omission of support and emphasis on cities she described as “fun” quickly caught attention—and not in the way she expected.

Indiana Fever Star Sophie Cunningham speaking to reporters (Photo via Twitter)

Cities Fire Back—And It Gets Personal

Within hours, fans and media personalities across Cleveland and Detroit were calling out Cunningham for appearing to dismiss the cultural and basketball relevance of their cities. But it didn’t stop there.

The City of Cleveland itself joined the conversation, posting a clip of Caitlin Clark praising the city during last year’s NCAA Final Four in Cleveland. It was a direct counter to Cunningham’s implication that players might not want to play there.

Detroit’s sports community chimed in as well:

Dan Gilbert, the billionaire owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, retweeted pro-expansion posts supporting Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs’ superstar guard, liked multiple tweets defending his city.

Dan Skipper, offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a sarcastic jab at Cunningham, emphasizing Detroit’s deep sports culture and pride.

By Wednesday, social media users began referring to her as “MAGA Barbie,” implying that Cunningham’s comments came from a tone-deaf, elitist perspective that disregarded blue-collar cities and the very demographics that have historically supported the WNBA.

Cunningham Attempts to Clarify

By Thursday, with the backlash reaching national sports media and memes circulating nonstop, Sophie Cunningham was forced to respond.

Sophie Cunningham (Clark Wade/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

She didn’t issue a full apology, but offered clarification, emphasizing that her remarks were based on lifestyle preferences, not intended as a slight toward working-class cities.

“First of all, I know the history behind the WNBA. I know that both of those cities have had teams before, and they got us to where we’re at,” she said.

“All I was really getting at is the off-court lifestyle. And so I think that is really intriguing—I think Miami is intriguing—that’s all I was getting at.”

“I would never speak down upon middle-class, blue-collar working people—that’s where I come from. I’m from Missouri. I get it—I’m in Indiana. That’s why I was hinting at Broadway [in Nashville] sounds fun, Miami sounds fun—that’s all I was getting at.”

Still, many critics felt her clarification didn’t go far enough. She didn’t walk back her comments entirely, nor did she acknowledge that Cleveland and Detroit might also have appeal beyond the club scene or beachfront views.

A Lesson in Player Messaging

The incident has become a case study in how much influence WNBA players now carry—and how quickly missteps can spark backlash, especially when they seem to downplay the league’s growing grassroots appeal.

Cleveland and Detroit aren’t just expansion cities; they’re symbols of WNBA resilience. Detroit was once home to the Shock, a team that won three WNBA titles before relocating to Tulsa in 2009. Cleveland hosted the Rockers, one of the league’s original eight franchises. The return of WNBA basketball to those markets is a victory for nostalgic fans and an opportunity to bring elite women’s sports back to cities that never stopped caring.

That’s what made Cunningham’s comments hit such a nerve.

The Fallout: Fans Are Watching

For fans, the expansion decision was about honoring basketball history, elevating women’s sports in underserved markets, and providing more opportunities for players. For players like Cunningham to prioritize nightlife and Instagrammable cities was seen by many as missing the point of what the league is building.

Still, others defended Cunningham’s right to express her opinion. “She’s not wrong about Miami or Nashville being exciting destinations,” one user tweeted. “But the way she said it just came off super dismissive.”

As of now, Cunningham hasn’t faced any disciplinary action, nor has she been asked to issue a formal apology by the league or the Indiana Fever. But the controversy may not fade quickly.

Bigger Picture: The WNBA’s Image Battle

This dust-up reflects a broader battle playing out in the WNBA—between authentic player empowerment and the league’s strategic growth strategy. The WNBA is balancing legacy cities with new fan bases, TV deals with community support, and glitz with grit.

Cunningham, intentionally or not, landed right in the middle of that tension. Her mistake wasn’t in having an opinion—it was how that opinion was framed, and the tone it carried in a league built on community, equality, and inclusion.

As the WNBA heads toward its most ambitious expansion ever, the cities chosen represent more than dots on a map. They’re testaments to the loyalty of past fans, the promise of future support, and the broader mission to bring women’s basketball into every corner of America—including the industrial heartlands.

In the end, Sophie Cunningham may have learned that words carry weight—especially in a league where every city, every fanbase, and every moment matters.