The Detroit Lions and Indiana Fever just found themselves in an unexpected clash.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stirred controversy this week when she threw shade at Detroit and Cleveland while discussing the WNBA’s future expansion cities. Cunningham questioned how excited players would be to go to Detroit or Cleveland, suggesting they weren’t desirable destinations for the league’s new teams.
That didn’t sit well with Detroit athletes. Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper stepped up to defend his city, taking to social media to clap back at Cunningham:
> “You ever been there? Pretty good place to play, well not for you now.”
Skipper’s sharp response came shortly after Cleveland Cavaliers stars Donovan Mitchell and Tristan Thompson also criticized Cunningham for her dismissive comments.
Ironically, Cunningham was a hero on the court the same night. She led the Fever to a 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final, scoring 13 points with seven rebounds off the bench. The win secured Indiana’s first Commissioner’s Cup title and a $500,000 prize pool for the team.
But Cunningham’s earlier remarks ensured her big night wasn’t without drama. Detroit fans—and players like Skipper—are making it clear: they won’t let anyone talk down about their city without a fight.
Lions’ Dan Skipper Fires Back at Indiana Fever Star Over Harsh Detroit Comments
