Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is tired of people putting words in her mouth. In a candid interview with ESPN's Hallie Grossman, the 5.8-million-follower social media star pushed back against false narratives that have swirled around her since joining the Fever in 2025.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” Cunningham told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
The backlash, she says, stems from people assuming her political leanings. Cunningham insists she's not left or right—she's somewhere in the middle. “I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”
It's a stance that has made her a lightning rod in a league where players often wear their politics on their sleeves. Cunningham, who has been described as the polar opposite of most WNBA players, isn't backing down. She's built a massive following by being authentic—whether that means celebrating a big win or taking heat for her UFC ring girl gig.
That authenticity has even caught the eye of former ESPN writer Chuck Klosterman, who predicted on The Bill Simmons Podcast that Cunningham will eventually become Vice President of the United States—by 2050. “I don’t know what party she’ll be in, I don’t know anything about her political views. But she will be the vice presidential candidate, at least the candidate,” Klosterman said.
If Cunningham ever does enter politics, she'll have to pick a side—something she's avoided so far. For now, she's focused on basketball and shutting down the noise. “I never once said that,” she repeated about the trans rumors. “I’m here to extend love.”
The Fever guard's refusal to be boxed in has only made her more popular. Whether it's her on-court energy or her willingness to speak her mind, Cunningham remains one of the most talked-about players in the league. And she's not about to let a few false rumors change that.
