The Indiana Fever are charging into the 2025 WNBA Playoffs with momentum, fresh off a historic season where they notched a franchise-record 24 wins. Despite a brutal run of injuries, including to star Caitlin Clark, the team secured the sixth seed and a first-round matchup against the Atlanta Dream.
However, for Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, this pairing feels just right, even if she’s stuck cheering from the sidelines. Though Cunningham shared how stressful it is to watch from the sidelines, even if nobody’s asking, she has made her choices for the team’s desired playoff opponents.
Sophie Cunningham Has Desired Teams For Indiana Fever In Playoffs
While there’s hardly any team as happy as the Fever, they entered the season as a fan favorite to win the championship. Midway through the season, they were almost on the verge of missing a playoff berth, yet Indiana is now all amped up heading into the final eight.
Cunningham, sidelined by a season-ending MCL injury, didn’t hold back her excitement about the Fever’s playoff draw. On her podcast, she laid out why Atlanta is the ideal opponent and why she’s relieved to dodge two WNBA powerhouses.
“I think I’m really leaning towards Atlanta because you’re in the same time zone. The flight is like an hour and fifteen. Or if you get Vegas it’s a different time zone, longer flight. Minnesota it’s only an hour time change, but I just don’t want to play Minnesota,” she said.
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Although her reasoning wasn’t just about convenience, Cunningham explicitly named two teams she wanted no part of. Easy to guess for many, it was the Las Vegas Aces and the Minnesota Lynx.
She’s not wrong, though. The Aces, riding a 15-game win streak and sitting at 29-14 as the second seed, are a nightmare matchup with their star-studded roster. The Lynx, meanwhile, boast the league’s best record at 33-10, making them a juggernaut Cunningham was happy to sidestep.
Sophie Cunningham Thinking Logically For Indiana Fever’s Playoff Success
While many would argue that Cunningham is dreaming of a safer side for her team, her comments reflect a player who’s thinking about team morale and logistics, even while rehabbing her injury. Before her ACL tear in August, she was a key contributor, averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
And logically, her absence, alongside Clark’s season-ending groin injury, has left the Fever leaner, but Cunningham is still keeping herself invested in their success. And right in the moment, even coach Stephanie White sent powerful message for the Fever.
So, the Fever’s 3-2 edge over the Dream this season, including a preseason win, gives them confidence heading into the playoffs. Facing the Dream won’t be a cakewalk. Atlanta’s healthier roster, led by veteran center Brittney Griner’s championship experience, gives them an edge, with DraftKings listing them as +1000 title contenders compared to the Fever’s longshot status.