Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is no stranger to the spotlight, but her latest claim has fans doing a double take. After speaking out against transgender athletes in women's sports, Cunningham says her outspokenness has been a driving force behind the WNBA's surging popularity.
“You have a lot of new fans, not only just watching, but coming to games and seeing the environment and seeing the talent,” Cunningham told the Associated Press before the Fever's loss to the New York Liberty on Saturday. “I think anytime you can get more eyes on the W, that’s an awesome thing, because then that inspires other young kids that maybe have never seen the game or heard about the game or been to a game, they get that experience. So I definitely think that it’s been a very positive thing.”
She also praised fans for exercising their freedom of speech outside the arena, adding, “I think it’s awesome people are using their freedom of speech, but I’m where my two feet are.”
But not everyone is buying what Cunningham is selling. Social media erupted with mockery, with one fan writing, “Everyone loves being pandered to,” and another adding, “She really thinks she did something by opening her arms to those people.” The backlash intensified after a rough outing against the Dallas Wings, where Cunningham posted a stat line of zero points, zero rebounds, and zero assists.
Despite the criticism, Cunningham insists her off-court commentary isn't affecting her game. “Look at my stats…I don’t know why people think this is such a big distraction…great time to be a Fever,” she told reporters, seemingly unfazed by the noise.
This isn't the first time Cunningham has been in the headlines this season. Earlier, her controversial takes drew both praise and ire, and even the Liberty's jumbotron got in on the action, sending a pointed message during Saturday's game. Fans have also questioned whether her newfound supporters are actually WNBA fans, with many unable to name five players.
Cunningham's confidence remains unshaken, though. She's been a polarizing figure all season, from her anthem gesture to winning over a Toronto crowd after initial boos. Her ability to draw attention—both positive and negative—is undeniable, but whether that translates to league growth is up for debate.
The Fever return to the court Sunday evening against the Chicago Sky, with tipoff at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock. Cunningham will look to bounce back from her scoreless outing, but the conversation around her impact off the court is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
