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Officially entering the open market after the Indiana Fever\u2019s season-ending playoff scrap with the Las Vegas Aces, fan favorite and veteran guard Sophie Cunningham is now an unrestricted free agent and faces a big question mark about her long-term future in Indianapolis.<\/strong><\/p>\n Handed a blockbuster trade to land in the franchise, then inked to a one-year pact and immediately carved out a vital roster piece, the 30-year-old guard proved to be one of the most valuable assets during the campaign.<\/p>\n Back from injury and in good health, she served up a much-needed punch off the bench for an entire season, bringing pure intensity on the defensive end, spirited energy in the paint, and clutch scoring at a rate of 7.9 points on 43.4% shooting from the field across 43 regular-season appearances.<\/p>\n Her fitting into the puzzle so seamlessly was huge for raising Indiana\u2019s total strength of competition.<\/p>\n Her deep-range threat and high-leverage savvy brought much needed spacing and secondary ballhandling punch to Indiana with franchise leader Caitlin Clark as well as a one-two punch of a backcourt that put defenses on their heels.<\/p>\n And of course, Cunningham\u2019s quotability and rugged style of play consistently kept her as one of the most featured players in national sports coverage beyond her reliable statistical production that made her legitimate contender for the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year honor.<\/p>\n That said, unrestricted free agency gives Cunningham the ability to shop herself all over the league to anyone who\u2019ll have her. With the front office prepping for a franchise-changing summer, locking down Cunningham with a multi-year contract extension should be the Hoosiers\u2019 biggest priority.<\/p>\n The team will be hard-pressed to maintain its inside-out dynamic \u2013 a system predicated on tough-minded, shooting-splashing guards and defenders who can combat the other teams\u2019 penetrating threats \u2013 if it loses the grit, the 3-point shooting, and the locker-room presence of Cunningham.<\/p>\n Conversely, Indiana would be losing a bevy of veteran reliability on the wing if she leaves in the open market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n