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The Indiana Fever have no shortage of star power, but their postseason hopes could depend on a player who does most of her work off the bench. Indiana highlighted Sophie Cunningham’s importance during the WNBA’s World Cup break, pointing to two qualities that have made her one of the team’s most valuable supporting players.
“Sophie Cunningham provides sharpshooting and energy off the bench,” the Fever wrote on X. “Her reliability and availability has been central to the team’s success this season.”
That message gets directly to the reason Cunningham could become a playoff difference-maker. Cunningham began the season in the starting lineup before coach Stephanie White moved her into a reserve role. Instead of allowing the change to diminish her impact, the veteran guard embraced it.
She is averaging 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 43.4 percent from beyond the arc. That percentage ranks among the best marks in the league and gives Indiana another dangerous floor spacer around Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
Sophie Cunningham provides sharpshooting and energy off the bench. Her reliability and availability has been central to the team’s success this season.
Cunningham gives Indiana something every contender needs
The Fever will not need Cunningham to lead them in scoring during the playoffs. They will need her to change games in shorter bursts. She can enter from the bench, knock down two quick 3-pointers and completely alter the way an opponent defends Indiana. Her willingness to compete physically also brings a different edge to a roster better known for its offensive firepower.
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Cunningham’s consistency has become especially valuable during a season in which the Fever have dealt with injuries and lineup changes. White knows what she is going to receive when Cunningham checks into a game: effort, confidence and a willingness to take an important shot. Indiana sits at 26-14 with four regular-season games remaining. The Fever return from the break against the Toronto Tempo on Sept. 17 before facing the Washington Mystics and playing the Minnesota Lynx twice.
Those games will determine Indiana’s final playoff seed, but the larger goal is making a deep postseason run.
Clark, Boston and Kelsey Mitchell will lead that pursuit. Cunningham may be the player who swings a close series by punishing a defense for focusing too heavily on Indiana’s stars. The Fever’s message made it clear that her contributions have not gone unnoticed. Once the playoffs begin, the rest of the league may receive the same reminder.
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