Sophie Cunningham offered measured praise for the Indiana Fever’s departing front-office leaders this weekend, while her choice of words left open questions about whether she expects to remain with the franchise heading into free agency.
The 30-year-old guard spoke while attending the Formula 1 race in Austin, Texas, just days after the organization announced sweeping changes on Friday. Team president Kelly Krauskopf stepped down after nearly 30 years with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and general manager Amber Cox was dismissed later the same day.
Cunningham addressed the limited advance notice of the moves.
“There was not a lot of warning, and that’s okay. I think that’s probably a good thing, that you kind of keep it in-house a little bit,” she said.
Krauskopf, the Fever’s original architect from the franchise’s founding, returned to the president role in 2024 after six seasons as an assistant general manager with the Indiana Pacers. She informed ownership of her plan to step away before the 2026 regular season concluded.
Cox, who joined as both general manager and chief operating officer in 2024 after a stint with the Dallas Wings, oversaw a combined 52-36 regular-season record across two years.
“But you know what, Kelly and Amber, they’re phenomenal, phenomenal people. They cared a lot about us, as individuals and as players outside the court. And so I have nothing but great things to say about them. Hoping the Fever come in and bring people who can do a really good job for that program,” Cunningham said.
The Fever finished the 2026 regular season with a franchise-record 28 wins and 16 losses, earning the No. 6 seed. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, short of the championship expectations that accompanied the core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Mel Raines said in a statement that Cox helped the franchise navigate rapid growth in visibility for both the team and the WNBA. The organization announced it will conduct a national search for the next general manager. Head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain in place, according to multiple reports.
Cunningham, an unrestricted free agent after two seasons in Indiana, averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 43 regular-season appearances. She shot 46 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range while averaging 22.2 minutes, primarily off the bench. Those numbers marked a slight dip from her 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 2025.
Her perimeter shooting and physical style complemented Clark’s playmaking, and she frequently served as an on-court protector when opponents targeted the star guard. Mitchell is also an unrestricted free agent, adding urgency to the coming roster decisions under new leadership.
“I was blessed to be under Kelly and Amber, and I hope them the very best. And so we’ll see what happens,” Cunningham said.
The Missouri product has averaged 7.9 points per game across eight WNBA seasons, spending the bulk of her career with the Phoenix Mercury before signing with the Fever ahead of the 2025 campaign. Her public comments on league officiating, player safety and other topics have drawn both strong support and criticism during her time in Indianapolis.
With free agency approaching and a new general manager expected to shape the roster around Clark, Cunningham’s on-court production as a 3-and-D contributor will be weighed against the visibility her off-court profile brings. The front-office reset positions the franchise for a fresh evaluation of its supporting cast as it aims to move past consecutive first-round exits.
