The Indiana Fever may have missed the WNBA Finals this season, but guard Sophie Cunningham is still making headlines — this time for a comment from President Donald Trump that sparked a social media frenzy and a wave of fake news.
At a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday night, Trump surprised WNBA fans by weighing in on Cunningham's appearance, suggesting that her looks are a draw for male viewers. "A lot of men like to watch her," Trump said. "Sophie Cunningham is a beautiful young woman. You probably wouldn’t mind her on the team not to help you with points, but to help you with attendance."
Within 24 hours, a tweet from a parody account pretending to be Cunningham went viral, reading, "I’m grateful thanks Mr president." The post racked up over 200,000 views and countless replies — even though Cunningham never sent it.
Fans were quick to react, with many calling out the fake tweet and the president's remarks. "He literally said you have no talent other than what your parents gave you. You’re not valued for your skill in his eyes, just your body. You’re grateful for being sexualized? Yikes," one commenter wrote. Another added, "Clout chasing insults now is wild."
Cunningham hasn't publicly responded to Trump's comment, and she's under no obligation to. The Fever guard has previously made it clear that she's unfazed by her critics, a stance she reiterated on a recent podcast.
"I literally don’t even care what anybody says about me anymore, because I’ve said this so many times — if you’re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate," she said. "The majority of these have never picked up a ball in their entire lives and they’re just like thirsty to like, have attention or be relevant in some type of way. No matter what anybody says to me, I’m going to continue to do me. I know what I bring to the table, it’s not always in the stat sheet. And so, for you to like, not say I’m effective or any of that, whatever."
The incident highlights the double standards female athletes often face, a topic that has sparked debate among WNBA media figures. It also comes amid ongoing conversations about respect and criticism within the league.
While Cunningham hasn't addressed Trump's remarks directly, she has shown in the past that she's not afraid to speak her mind, whether it's about her team's playoff run or her own experiences. As the WNBA offseason unfolds, fans will be watching to see if she has anything more to say about this latest distraction.
