Cleveland, Detroit accounts push back at Sophie Cunningham comments - ESPN

The social media accounts for the cities of Cleveland and Detroit have pushed back at Sophie Cunningham after the Indiana Fever guard questioned the WNBA's plan to expand into those markets.

Cunningham said Tuesday that she didn't «know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],» and identified Miami, Nashville and Kansas City as better alternatives for WNBA expansion cities.

The city of Cleveland's official X account responded Tuesday by posting a video of Cunningham's Fever teammate Caitlin Clark, who said last year that Cleveland was «awesome» during the 2024 Final Four.

The city of Cleveland also called out Cunningham in the post, saying «your teammate doesn't seem to think Cleveland is too bad,» while adding that the city is «proud to have been chosen to host a WNBA team and any player who comes here will feel that legendary passion Cleveland sports fans show our teams!»

Sophie, your teammate doesn't seem to think Cleveland is too bad!

We're proud to have been chosen to host a WNBA team and any player who comes here will feel that legendary passion Cleveland sports fans show our teams! https://t.co/FVQ2NjkmdO pic.twitter.com/dVTCud6w7x

The city of Detroit also issued a response on X, citing the attendance success of its previous WNBA team — the Shock — and saying that «Detroit is a sports town. We're sure we'll see the same excitement for the WNBA returning.»

The WNBA announced Monday that expansion franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) all would be joining the league over the next five years. All three teams announced have NBA ownership groups; the Detroit and Cleveland teams will play at the NBA arenas that currently exist, while Philadelphia is planning on a