Sophie Cunningham is adding another title to her résumé ahead of the 2026 WNBA season. While the veteran guard remains in free agency and has not yet signed with a team, she has secured a new role with USA Network as part of the network’s WNBA coverage.
According to Sports Illustrated, USA Network announced that Cunningham will join its on-air team as a contributor during the upcoming season. The network is set to air 50 regular-season games, along with playoff and Finals coverage, under the WNBA’s new media rights agreement. Its schedule will also include weekly Wednesday night doubleheaders.
Cunningham is expected to appear periodically in the studio throughout the season, though the exact number of broadcasts she will work has not yet been announced.
The WNBA superstar has openly expressed a desire for a future in sports media once her playing career ends. In a recent interview, she explained that broadcasting appeals to her because of the opportunity to analyze the game and tell athletes’ stories.
“I just love sports. I love talking to people and learning their stories. I love the ‘why,’” Cunningham said. “When I get asked to [commentate] for basketball, I know the game, I have the IQ for it. I see plays, I see why they do different schemes.”
She added that she enjoys breaking down why players and teams do what they do on the floor. “You get to break down these elite-level players and why they do what they do. I find it so fascinating,” she said. “Maybe there’s going to be a career there when I’m done playing basketball.”
The television opportunity arrives during a period of professional uncertainty for Cunningham. She joined Indiana after spending the first six years of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. Her season with the Fever ended early after she suffered a torn MCL in August, but the team is expected to pursue bringing her back once free agency officially opens.
