Sophie Cunningham posts 'Jesus is King' message as WNBA negotiations heat up ahead of CBA deadline

Indiana Fever prima Sophie Cunningham shared a connection astir her religion connected societal media this week arsenic the deadline for a caller corporate bargaining statement looms implicit the WNBA.

Cunningham, who is acceptable to go a escaped cause aft her archetypal play with the Fever was chopped abbreviated owed to injury, took to X to stock a connection encouraging her followers to "be bold and courageous!" 

Honorary gait car operator Sophie Cunningham attends pre-race ceremonial activities anterior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship astatine Phoenix Raceway connected Nov. 2, 2025, successful Avondale, Arizona. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

"Jesus is King," her station connected Wednesday read. "Remember to enactment focused connected what is true, right, and just. Do not waiver [sic] successful doing good. Be bold and courageous!" 

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The WNBA seasoned has spoken openly astir her religion connected societal media successful the past, often sharing akin messages connected Instagram. Her latest remarks travel amid ongoing negotiations with the league implicit a caller CBA and with her ain aboriginal successful Indiana inactive up successful the air.

Cunningham has been among the astir outspoken players during negotiations and took nonstop purpose astatine WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert implicit alleged remarks made astir the league and 1 of its biggest stars, Caitlin Clark. 

"I’m conscionable bushed of our league. They request to measurement up and beryllium better. Our enactment from apical to bottommost needs to beryllium held accountable. I deliberation determination are a batch of radical successful positions of powerfulness successful the WNBA who they mightiness beryllium truly large businesspeople, but they don’t cognize s--- astir basketball. And that’s gotta change," Cunningham said during her exit interrogation past month. 

Sophie Cunningham (8) and Caitlin Clark (22) of the Indiana Fever cheer from the seat against the Chicago Sky astatine the United Center successful Chicago, Illinois, connected June 7, 2025. (Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)

"I deliberation it’s beauteous shameful that she ever makes it astir her, Cathy, erstwhile it should person thing to bash with her," she added astir Engelbert.

CAITLIN CLARK CALLS FOR 'GREAT LEADERSHIP,' SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DOUBLES DOWN ON WNBA COMMISSIONER CONDEMNATION 

The remarks stemmed from accusations made by WNBPA Vice President Napheesa Collier claiming that Engelbert said successful a backstage speech that the erstwhile Iowa prima should beryllium "grateful" for the level the league provides her during a speech astir wage concerns.  

Engelbert disputed the claims, but the conversations astir subordinate wage and concerns astir officiating successful the league person delayed negotiations. 

The players’ relation and the WNBA agreed to an eight-year woody successful 2020, but past twelvemonth the WNBPA voted to opt retired of the statement early. The existent woody was owed to expire connected Oct. 31, but negotiations were extended done Nov. 30. 

WNBA prima and Missouri Tigers alum Sophie Cunningham is seen connected the sidelines during an SEC shot crippled betwixt the Texas A&M Aggies and Missouri Tigers astatine Memorial Stadium successful Columbia, Missouri, connected Nov. 8, 2025. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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A root acquainted with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the latest connection included gross sharing with a maximum wage of much than $1.1 cardinal disposable to much than 1 subordinate per team, with imaginable maturation each season.

The caller league minimum would besides summation to much than $220,000 with an mean of much than $460,000.

Cunningham volition go a escaped cause successful 2026 aft signing a one-year woody with Indiana past season. Her archetypal twelvemonth with the Fever was chopped abbreviated pursuing an MCL injury, which required season-ending surgery.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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