With the CBA talks still ongoing between the players’ association and the league, the franchises are working on the background for the upcoming season. One such work includes the selection of ‘protected’ players for the expansion draft.
As for the Indiana Fever, the team has many top candidates, including Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham, following their performances in the 2025 season.
But Cunningham faces a tough reality check as the Indiana Fever lock in Kelsey Mitchell as the top free agency target. ESPN also has a similar prediction, which makes the Fever fanbase nervous.
Fans React To ESPN’s Prediction About Sophie Cunningham
The WNBA-WNBPA CBA talks look like a never-ending saga, but when it reaches its conclusion, further processes will be faster. First of all, there will be an expansion draft where Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will have their picks from the current WNBA teams. The Golden State Valkyries benefited from such drafts in 2025.
As per ESPN’s prediction, the Indiana Fever will look to secure Caitlin Clark, Mikayla Timpson, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexie Hull. This leaves players like Cunningham, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, and Brianna Turner available for selection to the expansion teams.
this is who espn projects the fever to protect in the expansion draft. apparently teams only protect 5 players this time pic.twitter.com/S5EZsxN0mv
— correlation (@nosyone4) December 11, 2025
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With just five picks to secure, the Fever certainly have a lot of work to do, working on the perfect combinations. Fans, meanwhile, react to the list, urging the franchise to secure the versatile forward.
A fan wrote, “Protect Sophie at all cost.”
Protect Sophie at all costs
— Scranton Legget (@LeggetScranton) December 11, 2025
Another fan wrote, “Why KK and not Sophie?”
Sorry for the question but, why KK and not sophie?
— Bety (@bety97_) December 11, 2025
One fan mentioned, “There is no chance in hell wouldn’t protect Timpson over Sophie.”
There is no chance in hell wouldn’t protect Timpson over Sophie
— Jaydne000005 (@jaydne000005) December 11, 2025
A fan commented, “Why would they let Sophie go?”
Why would they let Sophie go?
— Rachel Redoll (@Rachel_RedWA) December 11, 2025
Another fan wrote, “We need to hopefully keep Aar and Sophie!”
We need to hopefully keep Aari and Sophie!
— Tyram (@TyramSRK) December 11, 2025
Caitlin Clark also publicly urged Sophie Cunningham to re-sign with the Fever team ahead of the 2026 season. But the former Missouri star has another plan.
Sophie Cunningham Could Exit WNBA
Even though analysts rate the 9-year-old forward as one of the top prospects of the upcoming free agency, there is a chance that she could leave the league forever. The former Mercury star signed with Project B late in November and mentioned that if things work well for the new project, she could leave the ‘W’.
“You just get cultured, it’s fun. And I’ve missed it, but I also don’t want to play around. My body can’t handle it. I have other things I want to do that I’m interested in, and so this just gives me the perfect opportunity to go play, get cultured, see the world, but also be able to come home and still experience what I want to experience,” said Cunningham.
Remuneration from Project B is the biggest factor for players to choose the new league. While they will be able to play in the WNBA simultaneously, eventually, players will choose Project B given the pay and other perks over the WNBA.