The Indiana Fever have re-signed Sophie Cunningham to a one-year deal, sources confirmed to IndyStar on Sunday morning.
Cunningham was an unrestricted free agent for the first time in her career this offseason, but opted to stay with the familiarity of Indiana in 2026. Her salary is not yet known.
She is the fifth free-agent signing of the Fever’s condensed offseason so far: the Fever have also re-signed Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, two stalwarts of the Fever lineup, as well as backup point guard Ty Harris and forward Monique Billings.
Cunningham was a second-round pick by Phoenix in 2019, spending six years with the Mercury as a part-time starter. She was traded to Indiana from Phoenix ahead of the 2025 season in a four-team trade that sent the Fever’s 2025 No. 8 pick to Connecticut and NaLyssa Smith to Dallas.
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Cunningham was an immediate fit for Indiana, filling in an enforcer-style role in the starting lineup — especially when she was ejected for “unnecessary and excessive” contact in a June game against Connecticut after Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye.
Her season with the Fever was cut short, however, because of an MCL tear in her right leg in August. She ended up playing in 30 games (13 starts) with the Fever in 2025, averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Cunningham started for the Fever at wing in 2025, and she could take over that spot again.
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Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar’s YouTube channel for Fever Insiders Live.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever bringing back enforcer Sophie Cunningham in free agency. What it means
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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