Sophie Cunningham Sparks Controversy After Publicly Questioning Why WNBA Players Miss Open Layups

Impending free agent Sophie Cunningham has sparked debate after publicly discussing missed open layups on her podcast, a topic critics frequently use to dismiss women's basketball.

The conversation unfolded during an episode of her podcast, the No Hesitation show.

Cunningham co-hosts the show alongside renowned basketball skill trainer Drew Hanlen.

During the episode, the nine-year WNBA veteran turned her attention toward an issue that has frustrated fans and analysts alike.

She looked directly at Hanlen and asked an uncomfortable question about finishing near the rim.

"Why do women basketball players, why do we miss so many wide-open layups? It's a joke because it does actually happen… Like wide-open layups."

Cunningham did not mince words when elaborating on her frustration during the recording.

She noted that the occurrence has become an undeniable reality on the court.

Her blunt phrasing immediately drew attention across the basketball community.

By addressing the issue so plainly, she gave voice to a topic that has lingered around women's basketball for years.

AN UNANSWERED QUESTION

Hanlen could only chuckle initially before trying to provide a technical answer.

As an elite trainer, Hanlen works with top NBA players, including Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton.

His client list gives him a unique vantage point on the mechanics of elite scorers across the sport.

Hanlen attempted to break down the anatomical and physical differences between men's and women's basketball.

"I think the biggest thing is athleticism," Hanlen explained on the podcast.

He noted that lower verticality changes how close an athlete gets to the rim when finishing.

"You’re not as close to the basket and stuff like that," Hanlen continued.

Hanlen also pointed to differences in upper-body strength when absorbing physical contact.

He suggested that male athletes can more easily take bumps and hits when finishing over defenders inside.

Yet, even with all his training expertise, Hanlen found himself at a complete loss regarding uncontested looks.

"The open ones, I have no answer for you," Hanlen admitted to Cunningham.

That admission highlighted why the topic remains so perplexing for coaches, players, and spectators.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

While missed layups often generate viral clips, statistical tracking shows a more nuanced picture.

According to Basketball Reference data, WNBA players shot 67.4% on attempts between zero and three feet from the basket over the last full season.

During that same timeframe, NBA players converted 70.3% of their attempts within that exact same range.

The three-percentage-point difference shows that the baseline efficiency between the two leagues is relatively close.

However, the perception of those misses is magnified by how heavily WNBA offenses rely on interior looks.

Tracking data reveals that layups account for nearly 36% of all total field goal attempts in the WNBA.

By contrast, layup attempts make up just 26.4% of total shots taken across the NBA.

Because layups represent a much larger share of the women's game, every single miss is felt more acutely.

A missed interior shot in the WNBA occurs in a game with fewer overall possessions and a higher density of rim attempts.

That statistical reality makes each blown opportunity near the basket stand out prominently to observers.

THE PHYSICAL REALITY OF THE RIM

Beyond frequency, physical dimensions play a defining role in how layups are finished in both leagues.

Both the WNBA and the NBA play on regulation baskets set at ten feet above the floor.

The height of the rim does not adjust for the measurable physical differences between male and female athletes.

According to league tracking data, the average height of an NBA athlete stands at 6 feet 6 inches.

In contrast, the average player in the WNBA stands at 6 feet tall.

That half-foot difference creates a substantial gap in physical reach toward the ten-foot rim.

The closer an athlete's release point is to the iron, the easier it is to control the basketball on the backboard.

Roster construction across both leagues further illustrates this stark physical divide.

According to CraftedNBA, the NBA currently features only five active players listed under six feet tall.

By comparison, official WNBA records show that 89 players listed under six feet tall were rostered over the last season.

Shorter players must elevate higher and release the ball at steeper angles to bank shots home.

Yet, as Cunningham pointed out, physical limitations do not fully explain why uncontested layups are missed without defensive pressure.

PRIOR COMMENTS AND GROWING SCRUTINY

This podcast appearance was not the first time Cunningham had voiced concerns regarding the sport's execution.

Just days prior, Cunningham made an appearance on Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast.

During that interview, she recalled conversations with family members regarding the perception of play on the floor.

Her growing profile off the court has broadened her reach far beyond traditional basketball audiences.

Her comments are now reaching mainstream sports fans who do not regularly watch women's basketball.

Women's basketball has enjoyed massive momentum in recent years, with television ratings and fan engagement surging.

In several business metrics, the WNBA has grown at a more rapid year-over-year rate than both the NBA and the NFL.

However, that explosive popularity has also invited unprecedented national scrutiny.

Every aspect of the on-court product is now analyzed, debated, and dissected under a public microscope.

Cunningham herself has not shied away from contentious cultural and athletic discussions in the past.

Earlier in the season, her public comments kickstarted controversy regarding transgender athletes in sports.

Now, her commentary on missed layups has placed her squarely at the center of another league-wide debate.

CALLING FOR HARD COACHING

Layup efficiency was not the only topic Cunningham tackled during her candid discussion with Hanlen.

The veteran guard also sounded off on what she views as a decline in demanding basketball coaching.

Cunningham agreed with Hanlen that modern trainers and coaches have become far too gentle with players.

She argued that coaches tend to be especially lenient when coaching young female athletes.

Cunningham insisted that the standards of instruction should never depend on an athlete's gender.

"Bring back hard coaching," Cunningham said passionately.

She credited old-school discipline for shaping her own path to the professional ranks.