The cities of Cleveland and Detroit have defended their WNBA credentials after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham questioned the league's decision to expand to those markets. Speaking on Tuesday, Cunningham expressed scepticism about how excited people would be about teams in Detroit or Cleveland.
Cleveland's social media account responded by posting a video of Fever star Caitlin Clark praising the city during the 2024 Final Four. “Sophie, your teammate doesn't seem to think Cleveland is too bad!” the post read.
Detroit's official X account highlighted the strong attendance record of the former Shock franchise, which played in the city until 2009. “Detroit is a sports town,” the post declared.
The WNBA announced on Monday that it will add three more expansion teams by 2030, bringing the league to 18 teams. The new franchises are set for Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030), joining previously announced additions in Toronto and Portland.
Cunningham, a seven-year veteran who played her first six seasons in Phoenix, noted that both Cleveland and Detroit had previously lost WNBA teams. The league's expansion plans have generated both excitement and criticism from players and fans alike.
