Sophie Cunningham Goes Viral for “Hot Girls Eat Arby’s” Shirt, Accidentally Sitting on a Cameraman, and Landing the Most Unexpected Endorsement Deal Yet

Sophie Cunningham Goes Viral for “Hot Girls Eat Arby’s” Shirt, Accidentally Sitting on a Cameraman, and Landing the Most Unexpected Endorsement Deal Yet

Sophie Cunningham has always had a flair for the bold—but this week, she didn’t just make headlines, she became one.

The Phoenix Mercury guard went from WNBA highlight reels to full-blown internet sensation after a wild sequence of events during a recent game sent fans, broadcasters, and brands into a frenzy. It started with her now-viral game-day outfit and ended with an unexpected moment courtside that had everyone talking.

Let’s rewind.

Before even stepping onto the court, Cunningham caught attention walking into the arena wearing a shirt that read, in bold block letters: “Hot Girls Eat Arby’s.” That alone might’ve been enough to make waves. The internet wasted no time turning the outfit into memes, TikTok soundbites, and threads of admiration—and confusion.

“Sophie just brought Arby’s back from the dead,” one fan joked.

“Was not expecting to wake up and crave a Beef ‘n Cheddar,” another posted.

The shirt, originally meant as a cheeky internet reference, suddenly became a conversation starter far beyond sports. By tipoff, #HotGirlsEatArbys was trending.

But the real viral moment came during the game.

Midway through the second quarter, Cunningham dove for a loose ball near the sideline and, in the chaos, accidentally slid off-balance—landing directly in the lap of a courtside cameraman. The impact was real, the moment awkward, and the reactions priceless. Cameras caught the entire sequence: Cunningham bursting into laughter, the cameraman stunned but smiling, and fans in the stands howling.

And once again, the internet did its thing.

The clip circulated within minutes, complete with captions like “luckiest cameraman alive” and “she sat on WHO?” One version paired it with dramatic movie music. Another slowed it down and dubbed in Arby’s commercials. Cunningham, always game for a laugh, shared the clip herself with the caption: “Guess we’re both having a meaty day.”

That humor—and the shirt that started it all—caught the attention of Arby’s corporate team.

Within 48 hours, the fast-food chain had posted a playful tweet: “Hey @SophieCunningham, let’s talk curly fries and contracts.” And talk they did.

On Monday, Arby’s announced it had signed Sophie Cunningham to a limited endorsement deal, making her the face of their upcoming campaign aimed at breaking fast-food stereotypes and embracing what they call “saucier energy.”

“Sophie embodies what we’re all about—bold, unapologetic, and unexpectedly fun,” said an Arby’s rep in a press release. “She made Hot Girls Eat Arby’s a movement. We’re just trying to keep up.”

The campaign will reportedly feature Cunningham in a series of lighthearted digital ads, social content, and a few in-person promotional events—possibly even a pop-up game-day food truck at a future Mercury game.

For her part, Cunningham seems to be loving the chaos. “I wore that shirt for fun,” she told reporters with a grin. “Didn’t expect to go viral, sit on a cameraman, or get free curly fries for life. But hey, I’ll take it.”

It’s rare that a moment this silly snowballs into something this big—but Sophie Cunningham just reminded everyone that athletes can be fierce competitors and internet icons. And sometimes, the best endorsements come from being exactly who you are—unfiltered, unpredictable, and just hungry enough.