The USA and Spain are set to renew their rivalry in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 semi-finals on Saturday, September 12, 12 years after their last World Cup final meeting, which the Americans won. Spain have returned to the last four for the first time since claiming bronze on home soil in 2018, while the USA are chasing an 11th straight semi-final appearance and their fifth consecutive World Cup title.
With the spotlight firmly on the blockbuster semi-final, another question has also caught the attention of fans: why wasn’t Sophie Cunningham included in the USA’s World Cup roster? The Indiana Fever guard has been a notable name in the WNBA, but she did not make the final squad for the tournament. Here’s what led to Cunningham’s absence from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup roster.
Why Isn’t Sophie Cunningham Playing for Team USA at the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026?
Sophie Cunningham was not included in Team USA’s 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, with the biggest factor being the intense competition for places on one of the deepest teams in women’s basketball. Although Cunningham enjoyed a strong season with the Indiana Fever and became increasingly influential as a shooter off the bench, her overall production did not put her ahead of the established stars selected for the tournament.
Another factor was Cunningham’s limited experience with the senior U.S. national team. Unlike several players on the roster who have already won Olympic or World Cup titles, Cunningham had yet to represent the USA at a major senior international tournament. Her role as a supporting player in the WNBA also made it difficult to break into a squad packed with proven stars. Her previous public comments about transgender athletes also attracted attention during the selection period, although her on-court credentials remained the primary consideration.
Instead of joining Team USA for the World Cup, Cunningham remained in the United States during the WNBA’s mid-season break. The Fever guard has continued working on her basketball career and media projects, including the launch of her new podcast, No Hesitation, while maintaining her training ahead of Indiana’s return to regular-season action.
Sophie Cunningham Launches New Basketball Podcast No Hesitation
Sophie Cunningham has launched her new basketball podcast, No Hesitation, with the debut episode released on Thursday, September 10. Produced by The Volume, the weekly show marks a clear change from her previous podcast, Show Me Something, as Cunningham has teamed up with renowned basketball trainer Drew Hanlen. The new format will focus heavily on the NBA and WNBA, featuring game film breakdowns, tactical analysis and Cunningham’s perspective as an active WNBA player, along with Hanlen’s player-development expertise.
The launch also comes after Show Me Something was taken down following Cunningham’s public disagreement with former co-host West Wilson. The pair found themselves on opposite sides of a debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports earlier in 2026. While neither Cunningham nor Wilson has directly linked the podcast split to that controversy, the previous show was removed from social media before the new basketball-focused project was introduced.
In the first episode of No Hesitation, Cunningham discussed Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA and argued that acknowledging the attention and commercial growth Clark has brought to the league should not be controversial. She also spoke about what she would want from the WNBA’s next commissioner, particularly better facilities and resources for players. New episodes of No Hesitation are set to arrive every Thursday on The Volume’s YouTube channel and major audio platforms.
