Indiana Fever promote Sophie Cunningham for 6th Player of the Year award
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 29, 2026, 4:01 AM
Last updated Aug 29, 2026

The Indiana Fever are advocating for Sophie Cunningham to secure the 6th Player of the Year Award, recognizing her strong performance this season with 8.4 points per game and a career-high shooting rate. However, this campaign has sparked backlash due to Cunningham's previous comments on transgender athletes, intertwining her candidacy with broader gender discourse in sports. Critics have questioned the league's choice to label the award as '6th Player of the Year' instead of '6th Woman of the Year,' a change made in 2021. As the debate continues, Cunningham's on-court performance remains a central focus in the lead-up to award announcements.
- •Cunningham averages 8.4 points, shooting 47.6% this season.
- •Fever's campaign sparked criticism regarding gender terminology.
- •Award was previously named '6th Woman of the Year' before 2021.
- •Cunningham's comments on women's sports have fueled controversy.
- 4:01 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Why Don’t They Call It 6th Woman of the Year?’ — Fever Under Fire As Viral Sophie Cunningham Post Reignites Gender Discourse
"The Indiana Fever are campaigning for Sophie Cunningham to win the “6th Player of the Year Award,” honoring the league’s top contributor off the bench. The team’s social media post highlighted her 8.
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