“They Don’t Have A Brain”: Sophie Cunningham’s NBA Vs WNBA Take Resurfaces Amid Draft Controversy

Aug 11, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) celebrates a made basket in the first half against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Sophie Cunningham has been embroiled in controversies, most of them off-court, this WNBA season. The Indiana Fever guard isn’t afraid to speak her mind and definitely isn’t easily spooked by the reaction that follows. Her recent controversial take on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s basketball has prompted ex-NBA players to declare themselves for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Amid this chaos, an old video of her has resurfaced, reigniting the whole WNBA vs. NBA debate. Cunningham is quite knowledgeable when it comes to basketball. For instance, she has been a game analyst since 2022. She was the recurring analyst for the Phoenix Suns on their Suns Live! pregame, halftime, and postgame TV coverage. In April 2026, USA Network announced that Cunningham would join its on-air crew as a contributor for the forthcoming campaign ahead of this season.  During a February 2025 interview for Sports & SHEnanigans with Jillian, Cunningham was praised for her knowledge of the game, which helps massively in her analyst career.  When asked if analyzing men’s basketball games has helped improve her on-court game, Cunningham replied, “I have learned so, so much… I think men, they’re phenomenal, phenomenal athletes. They are just like, they’re the most elite athletic people. We have more… we’re athletes, but we’re more IQ and fundamentals.” The Fever guard didn’t stop there.  Cunningham added, “So, they don’t have a brain; we do. And so, that’s really what it boils down to.” Now, she was clearly joking here. However, the 6-foot-1 guard knows it is unfair to compare the two leagues. After working as an analyst for both the NBA and WNBA, she has realized that even though both leagues feature some of the most elite athletes in the sport, the game played is completely different. Cunningham explained, “Just seeing them and the way they move and their schemes, I take that. And you see that, you have a lot of people coming to the WNBA from the NBA side, and now our game is starting to adjust to that. But so, me being able to see that the past couple (of) years, quick learner and like I’m, hey, that’s gonna… that’s, we need to be doing that and not this. And so, I don’t know, I’m appreciative, I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in.” The Fever guard added, “But it also takes guys who are willing to allow me to be in those positions and help me, because I was thrown to (sic) the fire. I did not go to J-school. I had good interviews in college, and they’re like, ‘Hey, you can talk; why don’t you try this?’ I was like, ‘Okay.’ But I didn’t know it was like gonna be on the NBA. I was like, ‘Oh God,’ ‘This is not good…’ So it takes strong men to empower females too.” Cunningham thinks the two leagues can compare in terms of basketball IQ, even though the WNBA may never be able to measure up to the NBA in terms of sheer athleticism and playing style. She admits to refining her own basketball mind by analyzing NBA games.  The Fever star’s recent comments on the participation of transgender athletes in the WNBA have created quite a firestorm and, frankly, sent the whole conversation about the game on the back burner. Her comments have now led former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White to throw their hats in the ring for the 2027 WNBA Draft. The WNBA has set up a task force to deal with the issue.