Sophie Cunningham’s Bold On-Court Energy and Off-Court Humor Draw Praise, Curiosity, and Criticism

Sophie Cunningham has always had a certain flair — a fearless, often misunderstood presence that turns heads both on and off the basketball court. Now, with Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark temporarily sidelined due to injury, Cunningham is stepping up in a major way. But she’s not just making headlines for her production on the court — she’s also drawing attention for a series of eccentric and eyebrow-raising interactions with teammates, opponents, and fans alike.

This is the story of how Sophie Cunningham, long known as a fiery personality in the WNBA, is leaning all the way into her moment. From launching a humorous and brutally honest podcast to throwing herself — quite literally — into strange game-time antics, Cunningham is showing the sports world who she really is.

And the reactions are… mixed, to say the least.

Cunningham Steps Up in Clark’s Absence

With Caitlin Clark sidelined due to a groin injury, the Indiana Fever faced questions about how they’d maintain offensive consistency and on-court leadership. Enter Sophie Cunningham. Over the past few weeks, she’s emerged not just as a capable replacement, but as a driving force behind the team’s surprising surge.

Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull standing over Sydney Colson (Photo via Twitter)

In the Fever’s recent win over the Seattle Storm, Cunningham poured in 17 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out two assists. Her shooting was impressively efficient — hitting 4 of 5 from three-point range and 5 of 6 from the field overall. The win pushed the Fever to a 17-12 record, solidifying their place as a legitimate playoff contender despite Clark’s absence.

But what really grabbed attention wasn’t just the numbers — it was how she played the game. Cunningham has always worn her emotions on her sleeve, but Sunday’s game featured an interaction with teammate Lexie Hull and Fever guard Sydney Colson that quickly went viral.

The Viral Courtside Moment Everyone’s Talking About

Before the matchup even tipped off, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull were caught on camera engaging in a bizarre and suggestive moment with Sydney Colson. As the players were warming up and interacting, Cunningham appeared to lean toward Colson in such a way that — unintentionally or not — her pelvis made contact with Colson’s face. At the same time, Hull was seen turning around and backing her rear toward Colson.

The incident left Colson laughing, but fans were more divided.

The viral clip spread like wildfire across X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram, with users both mocking and defending the trio’s behavior. While many dismissed the moment as playful and harmless — especially given Colson’s own reputation for being a prankster — others felt it crossed a line of professionalism and decorum.

Sophie Cunningham (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

“But I’d be wrong if I saw Sophie & Lexie walking down the street, and just dropped to my knee and started tying my shoe right?” one user quipped sarcastically, referencing the odd physical positioning during the incident.

The social media reactions ranged from confusion and laughter to outrage and calls for accountability. WNBA officials have yet to issue any statements about the interaction.

Cunningham’s Podcast: Unfiltered and Unapologetic

Off the court, Sophie Cunningham has also taken a bold leap into the world of content creation. She recently launched a podcast titled Show Me Something alongside her longtime friend and co-host West Wilson. According to Cunningham, the show’s mission isn’t to break news or make headlines — it’s simply a space for her and Wilson to be themselves.

“We’re lighthearted, and sometimes our love language is, like, s***talking,” Cunningham told People magazine. “It’ll be cool that people can see our humor, what we’re actually like, and it’s coming from us — not from other people perceiving or portraying what they think we are.”

Cunningham’s desire to reclaim her narrative is understandable. She’s spent much of her career pigeonholed as just “the edgy one” — the gritty competitor, the instigator, the enforcer. But through the podcast, fans get to hear her thoughts on everything from pop culture to locker room dynamics to personal struggles. The tone is irreverent, brutally honest, and — to some — refreshingly real.

But others argue that Cunningham’s media expansion is adding fuel to an already polarizing image.

A Complex Personality in a League Full of Eyes

There’s no denying that the WNBA is having a moment. With increased media coverage, fan engagement, and surging attendance numbers — largely thanks to stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese — every player in the league is under a brighter spotlight than ever before.

For Cunningham, that means every action is magnified. When she plays well, fans and analysts celebrate her production. When she acts out, critics are quick to jump in with accusations of immaturity or unprofessionalism.

This latest string of attention — from the pre-game incident with Colson to her podcast’s candid tone — illustrates how polarizing she’s become.

Her supporters argue that Cunningham is simply bringing personality to a league that has long been criticized for being overly polished and restrained. “Let the players be themselves,” one fan wrote. “We’ve spent decades asking WNBA players to show more character and now we want to scold Sophie for being real?”

But her detractors believe there’s a line — and she crosses it too often. “She’s not just being edgy. Some of this is inappropriate,” another fan argued. “You can be funny without being vulgar.”

A New Era for the Fever?

Regardless of how fans feel about her antics, Sophie Cunningham’s on-court production is helping the Indiana Fever stay afloat in a brutally competitive season.

With Caitlin Clark’s return projected around August 12, the team is hoping to ride this momentum and solidify playoff positioning. Cunningham’s emergence as a consistent scorer and emotional spark plug could pay dividends in the postseason — especially if she can channel her fire into pure focus when it matters most.

Head coach Christie Sides has praised Cunningham’s recent performances but hasn’t commented publicly on the viral moment with Colson. Whether it becomes a distraction or simply fades away will depend largely on how the team performs — and how Cunningham conducts herself moving forward.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Side Character

In many ways, Sophie Cunningham’s story is emblematic of the WNBA’s broader evolution. Players are no longer content to be silent stars — they want to be full personalities, with podcasts, social media presence, and unfiltered opinions. Cunningham is leaning into that fully, and the results are messy, bold, controversial, and, undeniably, captivating.

Whether you love her, hate her, or don’t know what to make of her, one thing is clear: Sophie Cunningham is not here to blend in. And in a league hungry for attention and authenticity, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

“But I’d be wrong if I saw Sophie & Lexie walking down the street, and just dropped to my knee and started tying my shoe right?” one person said.

“Very disrespectful!” a second person wrote.

“Is that female teabagging? TulipIng?” a third person asked.

“Why she putting her coochie all in her face,” a fourth person asked of Sophie Cunningham.

“Sexual assault in broad daylight,” one final person commented.