Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham recently offered a sharp rebuttal after her podcast co-host, basketball trainer Drew Hanlen, compared her statistics to those of Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic. During Thursday’s episode of “No Hesitation,” Hanlen highlighted that Doncic’s early-season averages for the 2026-27 NBA campaign already surpassed Cunningham’s performance from the previous year. After Boyfriend Delivers Emphatic Dunk in Orlando Magic Win.
To support his point, Hanlen noted that through just nine games, Doncic had already recorded 221 field goal attempts, a figure nearly equal to the 226 attempts Cunningham managed over a full 43-game WNBA season. He further emphasized the disparity in free-throw aggression, noting that Doncic had 102 attempts in that short span, while Cunningham logged 74 for the entirety of her 2026 season. In her reply, Cunningham underscored that she and the NBA star occupy vastly different roles within their respective teams. That’s My Man”: Angel Reese Fawns Over Wendell Carter Jr.
Cunningham also bluntly addressed the financial gulf between the two athletes. While the Fever star signed a one-year deal worth $665,000 in April, Doncic is currently earning $49.5 million this season as part of a three-year, $160.3 million contract. “He also makes $50 million a year,” she pointed out during the discussion. Some People’s Favorite Don’t Even Know How to Read” – Caitlin Clark Fans Boast About Fever Star as She Becomes NY Times #1 Best-Selling Author. Schedule, and roster updates all in one place, check out the latest Lakers depth chart.
The statistical contrast remains significant. Through 11 games this season, Doncic leads the NBA with 38.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game, shooting 48.9% from the field and 40.8% from deep. During the 2026 WNBA season, Cunningham averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, shooting 46.0% overall and 41.9% from beyond the arc.
Beyond the shooting comparison, Cunningham addressed the ongoing criticism directed at the Lakers by analyst Stephen A. Smith. Smith previously claimed that no NBA team could secure a title with a core featuring three white players, specifically citing the trio of Doncic, Walker Kessler, and Austin Reaves. Despite the Lakers’ strong 11-2 start to the season, Smith has maintained his skeptical stance. Cunningham pushed back on this narrative, suggesting that the team’s current performance is proving the analyst wrong. On Wednesday, despite LA’s 11-2 start, he doubled down on his take that the trio of Doncic, Kessler and Austin Reaves would not lead the franchise to a championship.
