WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has her sights set on competing on Dancing With the Stars, and she already has a professional dancer in mind for her potential appearance on the popular television show.

Cunningham attended Tuesday night’s live episode of the competition, but simply watching the celebrities take to the dance floor was not enough for the basketball player.

She is hoping to experience the show from the other side and become a contestant herself.

The WNBA star even got the opportunity to meet one of the show’s familiar faces backstage.

During her encounter with professional dancer Alan Bersten, Cunningham made it clear that she would love to have him as her dance partner if she gets the chance to join the cast.

“I want you to be my partner so bad,” she told Bersten.

Her enthusiastic request made it clear that she has already thought about who she would like to team up with for the competition.

However, despite her interest in taking part, there is one significant obstacle that could prevent her from making her DWTS debut anytime soon.

WNBA commitments could stand in the way

The biggest challenge for Cunningham is the timing of the Dancing With the Stars season.

The competition runs during a period that overlaps with the WNBA calendar, making it difficult for an active professional basketball player to commit to the show.

The current DWTS season is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, November 24.

That leaves only a limited number of episodes remaining this year, meaning Cunningham would not have much opportunity to join the competition before the season wraps up.

The WNBA schedule is a particularly important consideration.

Cunningham’s basketball commitments can include regular-season games and, depending on her team’s progress, playoff appearances. Those responsibilities could make it difficult for her to attend rehearsals and live performances on a consistent basis.

In fact, Cunningham was still involved in the basketball season shortly after the current DWTS campaign began.

The overlap between the two schedules is therefore more than a minor inconvenience.

It is a practical issue that would need to be resolved before she could seriously consider joining the cast.

Even if Cunningham is enthusiastic about learning choreography and performing in front of a television audience, the show requires contestants to dedicate considerable time to rehearsals.

Competing while maintaining the demands of a professional basketball career would be a major challenge.

Alan Bersten is her dream dance partner

Cunningham’s backstage meeting with Bersten also revealed that she has a particular professional dancer in mind.

Bersten is one of the recognizable dancers associated with Dancing With the Stars, and Cunningham did not hesitate to tell him that she wanted to be paired with him.

Her comment suggested that she is not simply interested in making a guest appearance but would genuinely like to take part in the competition.

A partnership with Bersten would give the WNBA star the opportunity to work with an experienced performer as she takes on a completely different challenge from professional basketball.

For Cunningham, the prospect of stepping onto the dance floor would mean moving outside her usual sporting environment.

Instead of competing on a basketball court, she would have to learn routines, master choreography and perform live in front of judges and viewers.

Although her athletic background could help her with coordination, stamina and physical preparation, ballroom dancing would still present a new test.

Fans would like to see Cunningham on the show

Cunningham’s interest in joining the cast has also attracted attention from fans, with some already expressing support for the idea.

One fan responded enthusiastically to the possibility, writing: “She’s great. Hope it happens!”

For viewers, having a professional basketball player compete on the show could bring a different kind of energy to the ballroom.

Cunningham’s athletic experience and willingness to take on a new challenge could make her an interesting addition to a future cast.

However, her appearance is not confirmed, and the scheduling conflict remains a major consideration.

Cunningham is also approaching an important point in her basketball career.

She is set to become a free agent this offseason when her $665,000 contract with the Indiana Fever expires.

While a change of team could affect her future basketball plans, it would not automatically remove the scheduling conflict between the WNBA and the television competition.

For now, Cunningham’s DWTS ambitions remain a possibility rather than a confirmed plan. Her conversation with Bersten has shown that she is interested in competing and already knows who she would like beside her on the dance floor.

Whether the WNBA schedule will eventually allow the pairing to happen remains to be seen. But if Cunningham gets the opportunity to join a future season, she has made one thing clear: Alan Bersten would be her first choice as a partner.