Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is openly considering a future appearance on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, even as the television program's production calendar directly overlaps with the WNBA season. Speaking on the November 6 episode of her No Hesitation podcast with co-host Drew Hanlen, the 30-year-old athlete stated that competing on the reality show is "not out of the question" and joked that she would rather win a Mirrorball Trophy than the WNBA 3-point contest. Her remarks arrive at a pivotal moment in her basketball career, as her one-year contract with Indiana has expired, making her an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2027 campaign.

While secondary headlines from outlets such as MARCA have framed her television interest as a direct conflict with her basketball career, Cunningham's actual podcast comments reflect an ongoing ambition rather than a confirmed casting announcement.

At the same time, her offseason calendar is filling rapidly with commercial shoots, media appearances, and a commitment to an overseas basketball venture, raising questions about how she will balance her rising off-court profile with her next WNBA contract.

Ballroom Ambitions vs. The WNBA Calendar

Cunningham's desire to join Dancing with the Stars gained renewed momentum after she recently attended a live taping of the program in Los Angeles with her sister. During the studio visit, she met professional dancer Daniella Karagach, who recognized the guard and encouraged her to join a future cast.

"She saw me, she was like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm a huge fan,' and I was like, 'I'm a huge fan of you,'" Cunningham recounted on her podcast, as cited by MARCA. "And she goes, 'Well, come next season ... come be my partner next year. You can lift me up.'

And I was like, 'Oh. That's awesome.'"

Despite mutual enthusiasm and maintaining contact with the show's representatives over the past couple of years, a major logistical hurdle remains. Dancing with the Stars traditionally premieres its fall cycle in September, colliding directly with the final weeks of the WNBA regular season and the league's playoff run. For a rotational player on a playoff-contending roster, committing to weeks of daily Los Angeles rehearsals and live broadcasts is virtually impossible without stepping away from her team.

"I truly do hope that I can do it one day," Cunningham said during the podcast discussion. "It gets in the way of our WNBA season. So, that's kind of my hold-up, but it's not out of the question."

Criticism of the WNBA 3-Point Contest

During the same broadcast, Hanlen noted that Cunningham was bypassed for the 3-point contest during the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend, despite ranking among the league's top five perimeter shooters.

According to Yahoo Sports, the 6-foot-1 guard shot 41.9 percent from beyond the arc and 46 percent from the field across 43 appearances in 2026, averaging 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

When asked whether she would prefer to win the All-Star shooting title or the reality dancing competition, Cunningham chose the television trophy and criticized the league's All-Star selection procedures.

"Oh, I'm going to get in trouble either way," Cunningham said. "I think, here's my thing, I think the 3-point competition is just so clearly political. They're going to choose random people. So it doesn't matter how good I do. I probably will never get chosen for that, which is eh."

As noted in coverage by The Sporting News, Cunningham's characterization of the selection process represents her personal opinion rather than substantiated evidence of league bias.

Still, the guard emphasized that the ballroom competition appeals to her competitive nature because she would have direct agency over her preparation.

"But I think 'Dancing with the Stars,' I have full control over that," Cunningham added. "I know votes matter, whatever, but I have full control over my dancing. And so I think I'm going to go 'Dancing with the Stars.'"

Surging Off-Court Metrics and Project B

Cunningham's confidence in her ability to draw audience votes is backed by substantial digital metrics. Although she started just three of her 43 games for Indiana in 2026 after recovering from a 2025 right knee MCL tear, she became a dominant force on social media.

According to Mondo Metrics data shared by Bknown digital agency founder Brendan Kaminsky and reported by Yahoo Sports, Cunningham averaged 518,000 engagements per Instagram post during the 2026 season—2.4 times more than Fever teammate Caitlin Clark, who ranked second.

In total, Cunningham generated 8.3 million engagements since May 8, accounting for 27 percent of all engagement among the league's top 50 players. Together with Clark, Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the quartet drove 65.8 percent (20.2 million of 30.7 million) of the top 50 players' total interactions, though Yahoo Sports noted that Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson hides her like counts, leaving her true totals unverified.

That digital footprint has translated into lucrative commercial activity. Cunningham's Fever jersey trails only Clark's in league sales, her signature Adidas shoes sold out, and she was reportedly shopping a book to publishers in August.

Her recent schedule has included attending Formula 1 in Austin, taking business meetings in Los Angeles, filming a commercial in Phoenix, and working in New York. The surge in public visibility also prompted Cunningham to hire round-the-clock traveling security.

Beyond entertainment media, Cunningham has committed to playing overseas during the WNBA offseason. She signed with Project B, a new global 5-on-5 basketball league scheduled to hold its inaugural tournament from January 19 to January 24, 2027, in Hangzhou, China. While reports indicate Project B has offered players salaries starting at $2 million plus equity, Cunningham's specific contract terms have not been disclosed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Sophie Cunningham re-sign with the Indiana Fever for 2027?

Cunningham's one-year contract with the Indiana Fever expired at the end of the 2026 season, making her an unrestricted free agent. Neither Cunningham nor the Fever has announced a contract extension, and she is free to negotiate with any WNBA franchise for the 2027 campaign.

Has Cunningham officially been cast on Dancing with the Stars?

No. While Cunningham confirmed she has stayed in touch with the show's representatives and received an informal invitation from pro dancer Daniella Karagach during a studio visit, she has not secured an official cast slot.

Does her Project B contract conflict with the WNBA or television plans?

Project B's first tournament takes place in January 2027 in China, which falls squarely during the traditional WNBA offseason and well ahead of the fall television schedule. Available reports do not indicate any scheduling conflict between Project B and her prospective 2027 WNBA commitments.

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