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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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Yesterday, WNBA star Sophie Cunningham shook up headlines when she said on her podcast that her new contract situation with the Indiana Fever was "frustrating."
After one season with the Fever and a season-ending injury, she signed a one-year deal with the Fever for $665,000 this offseason, a considerable boost from her previous salaries over seven years in the league.
During her "Show Me Something" podcast with co-host West Wilson, she explained that she wasn't able to get in front of people to show off her skills because she was super busy after injury rehabilitation. However, Cunningham mentioned that the deal she received "lit a fire" under her to prove herself in the coming season.
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Some may have believed Sophie was unhappy with the money, but she released an update on X soon after, explaining that it wasn't about the money. Instead, she said it was about getting more years on her deal so she could get a home in the area, which she loves, and bring her "dog and donkey to Indy" with her.
Read more: Sophie Cunningham Opens Up on ‘Frustrating’ Fever Contract Situation
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With the Indiana Fever at a practice session on Tuesday, Cunningham addressed her previous comments and contract publicly with reporters.
"Twitter kinda blew up last night about a comment I made on my podcast ... It's not what I meant at all. I think if you listen to the full clip, you understand that I just want to be somewhere for more than one year," she said.
"I'm almost 30 years old. I want to have a home. I want to kind of get established, and I would love to get established in a place like Indiana. We have such a great time, and when you find a group of girls who really make you fall in love with basketball ... you wanna hold onto that," she explained.
Cunningham said, "The internet's doing what the internet does and trying to stir things up," she told reporters at the Fever's practice.
Cunningham said the way people characterized her podcast comments made her seem "snotty and ungrateful," which is the last thing she wants. However, based on her latest comments, she's happy to be back with her teammates after recovering from her injury and looking forward to the new season, which begins soon.
According to the Indianapolis Star's Chloe Peterson, Cunningham received multi-year offers from other teams, but chose to return to the Fever on a one-year deal.
In addition to re-signing Cunningham, the Fever also signed Lexie Hull to a new two-year deal worth $1.57 million, and Aliyah Boston to the richest deal so far in WNBA history, a four-year $6.3 million contract extension.
The Indiana Fever are back on the court for their first preseason game against the New York Liberty on Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Read more: Sophie Cunningham Sets Record Straight On Frustration With Fever Contract
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