Imagine a star athlete completely tuning out the championship showdown of her sport – that's the surprising stance of WNBA standout Sophie Cunningham on the 2025 Finals! It's a move that's got fans scratching their heads, but as we'll dive into, it makes a whole lot of sense when you consider the toll of the season. But here's where it gets controversial: Is her decision a bold act of self-care, or is it a missed opportunity to support her former team? Stick around to explore this eye-opening story and see what you think.
The 2025 WNBA Finals are heating up, with the possibility of wrapping up as early as Friday night in Phoenix. Yet, Sophie Cunningham, the talented forward for the Indiana Fever, won't be glued to her screen cheering on the action. In a candid chat on her podcast, Show Me Something (check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSe1pq1rMBQ&t=631s), she opened up about her total disinterest. 'I haven't watched a single minute of the WNBA Finals,' she confessed to her co-host West Wilson. 'I'm clueless about what's happening. I really need a mental cleanse – I'm even planning some vacations to recharge.'
To understand why this makes perfect sense, let's rewind a bit. Cunningham's own season came to a heartbreaking halt on August 17 when she tore her MCL – that's the medial collateral ligament in her right knee, a common injury in high-impact sports like basketball that can sideline players for weeks or months with pain and swelling. While she was sidelined, she could only watch from the sidelines as her Indiana Fever teammates battled fiercely against the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. The Fever pushed the Aces all the way to a thrilling Game 5, but ultimately fell short in overtime with a 107-98 loss. It was a valiant effort, especially considering the team's roster was riddled with injuries – think of it like a sports team trying to win a championship with key players out due to sprains or breaks, yet still making it to the playoffs.
After that intense semifinal run, Cunningham, who's now a pending free agent (meaning she's eligible to sign with any team in the upcoming offseason), decided it was time for a well-deserved break. She wrapped up exit interviews with her Fever teammates – those are the post-season chats where players reflect on the year and share feedback – and then hit pause on all things WNBA. 'Good luck to whoever takes the title,' she told Wilson. 'Honestly, I don't care who wins these Finals.'
And this is the part most people miss: Her reaction got even more interesting when Wilson updated her on the Finals matchup. The Las Vegas Aces were up 2-0 against the Phoenix Mercury, and Cunningham couldn't help but chuckle. Why? Because she was traded to Indiana during the offseason from Phoenix – the very team that drafted her and helped her grow into a regular starter in the WNBA. It's like rooting for your old school in a rivalry game, but choosing to sit it out instead. Now, the Aces have extended their lead to 3-0, and they could clinch the series with a sweep on Friday night in Phoenix. For beginners following along, a sweep means winning all games in the series without dropping a single one, which is a huge accomplishment in playoff basketball.
This situation sparks some real debate. On one hand, Cunningham's choice to step back feels like a smart way to prioritize mental health after a grueling season filled with injuries and high-stakes games. But on the other, some might argue it's controversial for a player to disengage from the league's biggest event, especially with her personal connections to both teams involved. Is this a sign of burnout in professional sports, or just a personal boundary? And what about the Fever's incredible semifinal run despite so many setbacks – does that make their story even more inspiring, or highlight bigger issues like player safety and team management?
For more on the WNBA drama, dive into these related stories:
Mercury make Satou Sabally decision before must-win WNBA Finals Game 4 (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/phoenix-mercury/news/mercury-make-satou-sabally-decision-must-win-wnba-finals-game-4/a97191a28dd071115cfc819a)
Mercury under fire for response to scary Satou Sabally injury (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/phoenix-mercury/news/mercury-under-fire-response-scary-satou-sabally-injury/0969d602b4d7b8c38c2d3ae4)
Sophie Cunningham echoes Napheesa Collier with NSFW rant about WNBA and Cathy Engelbert (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/indiana-fever/news/sophie-cunningham-echoes-napheesa-collier-nsfw-rant-about-wnba-and-cathy-engelbert/24bd5c17a42906e533d811e4)
Despite A'ja Wilson heroics, this Aces star is the WNBA Finals' unsung hero (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/las-vegas-aces/news/despite-aja-wilson-heroics-aces-star-wnba-finals-unsung-hero/e5e7cb54c1243fcf5958c37a)
Aces' A'ja Wilson grows WNBA legend status with epic Finals stats, finish (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/las-vegas-aces/news/aces-aja-wilson-wnba-legend-status-epic-finals-stats-finish/30331837b74601a17b498908)
What did Cathy Engelbert say about Caitlin Clark? Why WNBA commissioner's alleged comment infuriated Fever fans (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wnba/indiana-fever/news/what-did-cathy-engelbert-say-about-caitlin-clark-why-wnba-commissioners-alleged-comment-infuriated-fever-fans/533ad8812c57d67d06bddc9b)
What do you think – is Sophie Cunningham's break from the Finals a refreshing take on athlete well-being, or does it rub you the wrong way? Do you agree that prioritizing mental health trumps everything, even in the heat of a championship? Share your thoughts in the comments – I'd love to hear if this changes how you view player decisions in sports!
