WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham has faced backlash from the social media accounts of Cleveland and Detroit after she expressed doubts about the two cities being selected as new expansion sites. The cities have fired back, with Cleveland’s X account posting a video of teammate Caitlin Clark saying last year that the city is “awesome.”
Cleveland responded to Cunningham by referencing her comments, stating that Clark seems to think differently and praising the city for hosting an upcoming WNBA team. The city also highlighted its passion for sports fans.
Detroit also weighed in, citing its attendance success with a previous WNBA team and saying it’s a sports town where excitement will be present when the league returns. The WNBA announced expansion franchises for Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) over the next five years.
Cunningham expressed concerns about the expansion plan, suggesting that cities like Miami and Nashville might have been better alternatives. However, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that a number of cities bid for expansion teams, including those mentioned by Cunningham.
Source: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45646215/cleveland-detroit-accounts-push-back-sophie-cunningham-comments