Sophie Cunningham says WNBA schedule keeps her off Dancing with the Stars

Sophie Cunningham says WNBA schedule keeps her off Dancing with the Stars originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Sophie Cunningham has a vision for herself on “Dancing with the Stars.” The Indiana Fever guard said she loves dancing and believes she could do well on the show, but there is one major problem: the schedule.

On her “No Hesitation” podcast with trainer Drew Hanlen, Cunningham said the show has tried to bring her on for the past couple of years. The timing has made it difficult. Filming begins in September, when the WNBA regular season is reaching its final stretch and the playoffs are beginning.

Cunningham described herself as someone who grew up dancing and said she enjoys the choreography she does for TikTok. She also recognized that the show would demand a different level of preparation than a short social-media dance.

The idea is easy to picture. Cunningham is expressive, confident and comfortable in front of a camera. But the WNBA calendar does not leave much room for rehearsals, travel and live performances when a player is expected to remain focused on her team.

A busy season comes first

Cunningham was an important contributor for Indiana in 2026, averaging 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 43 regular-season games. She came off the bench in 40 of those appearances, giving the Fever a veteran presence and a scoring option in the second unit.

Indiana finished 28-16 and earned the No. 6 seed, but its season ended in the first round against the Las Vegas Aces. Cunningham is now an unrestricted free agent after her one-year deal with the Fever expired, so her playing future is also a major offseason question.

That makes her television ambition more of a “maybe someday” story than an imminent career change. Cunningham has not announced that she will appear on the show; she explained that the timing has not worked while she has remained committed to basketball.

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The dance floor can wait

A WNBA player’s offseason is short, and a season that extends into September can overlap directly with the show’s production schedule. Even if Cunningham wants to participate, it would take coordination between the competition and her basketball obligations.

For now, she can keep the dream on the list while weighing her next steps in the league. If a future season creates a more workable window, Cunningham could bring her personality and dancing background to a very different audience.

The timing may have shut the door for the past couple of years, but it has not erased the idea. Cunningham’s fans now know that she would be open to the challenge whenever basketball finally gives her room to take it.

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