The Indiana Fever are taking a new approach to the 2026 WNBA playoffs: under the spotlight.
With what figures to be a difficult first-round series against defending champs Las Vegas Aces, it’s the rumors circulating over the team’s depth chart and player relations within the social media ether, rather than inside the Fever locker room, that has brought the chatter.
Fresh online speculation claimed veteran guard Sophie Cunningham was considering retirement after a difficult regular-season finale against the Minnesota Lynx.
These viral rumors-including a made-up farewell quote from teammate Caitlin Clark and a falsely silenced video clip-have since been exposed as false. Cunningham is still a key member of head coach Stephanie White’s playoff rotation.
Cunningham’s unbelievable streak of 20-game double-doubles, unfortunately, began in the final game of Indiana’s regular season, when she scored none in 16 minutes of Indiana’s 20-point loss at Minnesota.
But the circumstances surrounding the numbers tell a very different tale of her season late down the stretch:
With a week remaining in the regular season, Cunningham scored 11 points against Minnesota to reach the 2,000-point mark for his career while making 3-of-6 shots from the field and going a +17 in his plus/minus.
Cunningham’s average of 22.2 minutes per game during the regular season proved to be much needed perimeter depth, as she shot 42.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Clark and Cunningham are completely locked in on the first round so any planted stories about distraction off the court can be dismissed.
Indiana’s Keys to Beating the Las Vegas Aces
Meanwhile, in the middle, they will have to do it without Breanna Stewart, who remains out with a foot injury, forcing Indiana to rely on a few other players on the roster to make things work.
The game plan against Vegas revolves around consistency from the team’s statistical leaders.
Cunningham’s spacing and versatility on defense – switching onto multiple positions on any given defensive set – makes her an X-factor for Indiana.
Her ability to create space on the floor provides vital separation for Clark to operate as a ball-handler and Mitchell to attack off the dribble. Indiana will be challenged at all times on the defensive end this postseason.
