Cleveland, Detroit clap back at Cunningham barb

The societal media accounts for the cities of Cleveland and Detroit person pushed backmost astatine Sophie Cunningham aft the Indiana Fever defender questioned the WNBA's plan to expand into those markets.

Cunningham said Tuesday that she didn't "know however excited radical are to beryllium going to Detroit oregon [Cleveland]," and identified Miami, Nashville and Kansas City arsenic amended alternatives for WNBA enlargement cities.

The metropolis of Cleveland's authoritative X relationship responded Tuesday by posting a video of Cunningham's Fever teammate Caitlin Clark, who said past twelvemonth that Cleveland was "awesome" during the 2024 Final Four.

The metropolis of Cleveland besides called retired Cunningham successful the post, saying "your teammate doesn't look to deliberation Cleveland is excessively bad," portion adding that the metropolis is "proud to person been chosen to big a WNBA squad and immoderate subordinate who comes present volition consciousness that legendary passionateness Cleveland sports fans amusement our teams!"

The metropolis of Detroit besides issued a response connected X, citing the attendance occurrence of its erstwhile WNBA squad -- the Shock -- and saying that "Detroit is simply a sports town. We're definite we'll spot the aforesaid excitement for the WNBA returning."

The WNBA announced Monday that enlargement franchises successful Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) each would beryllium joining the league implicit the adjacent 5 years. All 3 teams announced person NBA ownership groups; the Detroit and Cleveland teams volition play astatine the NBA arenas that presently exist, portion Philadelphia is readying connected a caller gathering that volition beryllium completed hopefully by 2030.

Cunningham raised her concerns with the enlargement program during Tuesday's shootaround earlier the Fever's 74-59 triumph implicit the Minnesota Lynx successful the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final.

"You privation to perceive to your players, too," she said. "Where bash they privation to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and gully fans? I bash deliberation that Miami would person been a large [location]. Nashville is an astonishing city. Kansas City, astonishing opportunity.

"I'm not truthful definite what the thought process is there, but astatine the extremity of the day, you privation to marque definite that you're not expanding our league excessively fast. I deliberation that that's besides different thing. It's benignant of a hard decision-making situation. But man, I don't cognize however excited radical are to beryllium going to Detroit oregon [Cleveland]."

Cunningham, a seven-year seasoned who spent her archetypal six years successful Phoenix, did not talk to reporters aft the game.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Monday that a fig of cities bid for enlargement teams, including Miami, Nashville, Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Charlotte, Denver and Austin, Texas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.