Cunningham Backs Hanlen on Soft Women's Coaching

WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham agreed with trainer Drew Hanlen that coaches of women's basketball players are too soft on athletes.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball

WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham agreed with trainer Drew Hanlen on the No Hesitation podcast that women's basketball coaches have grown too soft on athletes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sophie Cunningham agreed with NBA trainer Drew Hanlen that coaches are too soft on women athletes and often hold them back rather than pushing them as hard as male athletes. Cunningham made the remarks on the No Hesitation podcast, and the segment was later clipped and posted to X.

Why it matters

The exchange adds a voice from inside the WNBA to a debate over how aggressively female athletes are coached and whether they are challenged enough to reach their potential. Cunningham argued that athletes must take ownership of their development and accept criticism.

The claims rest on podcast remarks rather than measured coaching data, and the only figures cited are Belmont's two NCAA tournament appearances during Hanlen's playing career. The source does not indicate any study comparing how hard male and female athletes are coached.

The players

Sophie Cunningham

Sophie Cunningham is a WNBA guard who was selected in the second round of the 2019 draft and played for the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever.

Drew Hanlen

Drew Hanlen is an NBA trainer who founded Pure Sweat Basketball and has worked with Bradley Beal, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jayson Tatum.

The details

Cunningham and Hanlen discussed the topic on the No Hesitation podcast after a co-host raised the future of women's basketball. Hanlen argued that coaches often hold back female athletes, and Cunningham said coaches are too soft nowadays and that players must accept criticism to reach their full potential.

2019: Cunningham was selected in the second round of the WNBA draft.
2026 playoffs: The Indiana Fever were eliminated, leaving Cunningham a free agent.
November 5, 2026: The article was published on EssentiallySports.

Big Picture

Cunningham entered the WNBA through the 2019 draft and has since played for the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever. Her remarks come from that professional experience and join an ongoing discussion about coaching intensity for women athletes.

The remarks may influence how coaches approach training for women athletes at all levels. Fans following the WNBA may see the debate shape conversations about player development and coaching standards.

The takeaway

Athlete development depends on both coaching intensity and the athlete's willingness to accept criticism, a point Cunningham emphasized. The debate highlights that expectations for female athletes are part of a broader discussion about how they are trained.