💥 Everyone Wants a Piece of Sophie Cunningham: WNBA Enforcer Draws Pro Wrestling Interest from WOW & Jeanie Buss

1. Introduction: The Feisty Enforcer Catches Attention Beyond Basketball

For the past several months, Sophie Cunningham—Indiana Fever veteran and Caitlin Clark’s on-court protector—has become more than a WNBA role player. She’s become a spectacle, a character, and now, the subject of major interest from the world of professional wrestling.

In an unexpected twist, Women of Wrestling (WOW)—the all-women’s professional wrestling promotion co-owned by Dave McLane and Lakers president Jeanie Buss—has put out the rallying cry: they want Cunningham in the ring. A video emerging from San Diego’s Comic‑Con ignited speculation, and now pop culture and sports are buzzing about a crossover that feels like a match made in entertainment heaven.

2. Dave McLane’s Pro Wrestling Pitch: “She’s the Marty McSorley to Caitlin Clark’s Gretzky”

During a panel at Comic-Con San Diego, Dave McLane, founder of WOW and the legendary GLOW, spoke passionately about Cunningham:

“I’m from Indiana. I’m from Indianapolis, and that’s the home of not only the second-best basketball team in the country this last year, but the biggest name in professional basketball today, Caitlin Clark. And Caitlin Clark has an enforcer. She’s the Marty McSorley to Wayne Gretzky, and she’s a stunning athlete.” Reddit+14Awful Announcing+14SI+14Wikipedia

McLane didn’t stop there:

“I flew to Las Vegas and watched them in action against the Aces, and I would love to have Sophie Cunningham in WOW, because she takes down the competition, and she makes sure that Caitlin Clark is safe on the basketball floor. We’d love to have Sophie in WOW.” Bleacher Report+5Awful Announcing+5BroBible+5

The analogy was crystal clear: Cunningham’s role on the court is to serve as Clark’s protector—handling physicality, maintaining toughness, and intimidating foes. That’s precisely the kind of persona WOW needs.

3. Jeanie Buss Amplifies the Offer: “Talented, Dedicated, Fierce Competitor”

Shortly after McLane’s remarks, Jeanie Buss, co‑owner of WOW and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, took to X (formerly Twitter) to echo the sentiment:

“We would love to have @SophieCunning5 join us at @wowsuperheroes she is talented, dedicated and a fierce competitor!!” Wikipedia+3SI+3yardbarker.com+3Athlon Sports+9wxbc1043.com+9Awful Announcing+9

She later corrected Cunningham’s handle in a follow-up post, ensuring the message reached its intended audience. SI+1yardbarker.com+1

The post came amid news coverage illustrating how Cunningham’s physical style of play—especially in key moments defending teammate Caitlin Clark—caught the wrestling community’s eye.

4. The Incident that Sparked Interest: June’s Physical Game vs. Connecticut Sun

The crescendo came on June 17, when the Fever took on the Connecticut Sun in a highly physical game. Tensions boiled over when Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye by Sun guard Jacy Sheldon, sparking an altercation that resulted in Sophie Cunningham delivering a hard foul in retaliation. Both were ejected from the game. Bleacher Report+4BVM Sports+4wxbc1043.com+4Reddit+4SI+4yardbarker.com+4

That moment seemed to cement Cunningham’s reputation as not just a player, but a protector—someone who handles injustice head-on. Her jersey sales spiked, her social media following surged by nearly a million, and WOW immediately reared up to consider her as a performer. Bleacher ReportAthlon Sportsyardbarker.com

5. Why WOW and Buss Are Taking Notice

WOW has a storied history in women’s wrestling, originally created in 2000 by McLane and revived with Buss’s involvement since 2019. It has aired across major networks including AXS TV and platforms like Pluto TV, and aims to spotlight strong female athletes. WikipediaWikipedia

What makes Sophie Cunningham attractive:

Physicality + showmanship: She brings real grit and dramatic energy, much like wrestling personas. Reddit+12yardbarker.com+12BroBible+12

Cultural visibility: As a notable figure in the WNBA supporting Caitlin Clark, she connects with younger audiences.

Crossover potential: With basketball stars increasingly exploring off-court ventures, she represents a bridge between genres. BVM Sports

6. Cunningham’s Response: “I Would Not Not Be Interested”

Following the offer, Cunningham was asked about taking up wrestling. To headlines, she replied:

According to Fever reporter Brian Haenchen, she said she would “not not be interested” in joining WOW—pending the end of the season. Bleacher Report+2Athlon Sports+2yardbarker.com+2

Cunningham revealed that she grew up a devout wrestling fan, watching icons like Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Goldberg, and Kane—names she admits she was “scared to death” of as a child. Athlon Sports+1yardbarker.com+1

Her comment summed it up: “But I think it’s fun. Who knows (what the future holds).”

With her WNBA season underway, she hasn’t said “yes”—but she hasn’t ruled it out, either.

7. Sophie Cunningham in 2025: Stats, Role & Notoriety

In her seventh WNBA season, Cunningham has become a vital part of the Fever’s rotation. Acquired in a January 31 trade from the Phoenix Mercury, she transitioned from a bench role into a key reserve behind Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Athlon Sports+1yardbarker.com+1yardbarker.com+1Athlon Sports+1

As of late July:

Averages: 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 steals per game

Shooting: 43.4% from the field, 40% from three-point range Athlon Sports+1yardbarker.com+1

Played her 200th career WNBA game on July 16. yardbarker.com+1Athlon Sports+1

While those numbers are solid, it’s Cunningham’s physicality and presence—particularly in high-tension situations—that have made her a standout personality.

8. WNBA Meets WOW: A Growing Crossover Trend

Cunningham’s budding interest in WOW is part of a broader trend: women athletes exploring entertainment avenues beyond their sport. While WOW isn’t WWE or AEW in scale, its focus on theatrics and empowerment makes it a natural side stage for high-profile tropes like enforcers and dramatic rivalries. WikipediaBroBible

If Cunningham embraced this leap, it could mirror other athletes who have successfully crossed over—bringing visibility back to both the WNBA and WOW, and possibly inspiring future jalans between sports and spectacle.

9. Reactions: Fans, Media, and WWE-Style Reddit Buzz

On social media, reactions have ranged from enthusiastic fandom to humorous speculation:

Some Reddit users wrote:

“After she dragged Sheldon to the floor, her jersey sold out and her followers skyrocketed.” Reddit+1Reddit+1Bleacher Report

Others joked about her potential wrestling persona or imagined her future ring entrance. That blend of basketball community respect and wrestling appreciation highlights how widely her brand is resonating.

Media outlets confirmed that this interest from WOW is genuine—not just playful commentary. Both Athlon Sports and SI covered the story in depth, noting the significance of Buss’s public invitation. yardbarker.com+3yardbarker.com+3Athlon Sports+3

10. What Could This Mean for Sophie and WOW?

A future move to WOW (even part-time or post-basketball) could have several outcomes:

Expanded brand identity: Cunningham has potential to build a persona outside the court, perhaps in roles like a heel or enforcer character.

New audience alignment: Wrestling fans may be drawn to her basketball background—especially if she brings authentic intensity and crossover credibility.

Empowerment narrative: As an athlete crossing sports, she reinforces the idea of women leading in multiple arenas.

Jeanie Buss has proven she’s willing to invest in WOW’s athletes as stars. And Cunningham’s acceptance—or even exploration of the idea—could help spark a wider conversation about women athletes expanding into entertainment.

11. Wrestling Meets WNBA: A Cultural Shift in Women’s Sports

The Sophia Cunningham-WOW story captures more than just cross-career flirtation—it captures a shift in how female athletes are perceived.

Women of Wrestling boasts over 207 episodes across 10 seasons, uplifted by streaming deals with Roku Channel and Paramount+ and embracing strong characters with dramatic appeal. yardbarker.com+1Athlon Sports+1Wikipedia+6Wikipedia+6Awful Announcing+6

Meanwhile, Cunningham represents the new cohort of WNBA players who command attention both on court and off—through social media reach, bold personality, and willingness to stake their opinion (as seen via her podcast). That alignment creates synergy with WOW’s ethos.

12. The Road Ahead: Season Ends, Possibilities Begin

As the WNBA regular season continues, Cunningham remains focused on basketball. Her next order of things:

Complete the season at full commitment for Indiana (who remain in playoff contention).

Evaluate her interest during offseason—particularly if WOW’s invitation stands.

Leverage or possibly integrate wrestling ventures into her offseason media/personal branding schedule.

While nothing is official yet, the conversation has already shifted: Sophie Cunningham is no longer just a WNBA player. She could be a crossover star, a prototype for future athletes balancing sport and entertainment.

13. Final Snapshot: Why This Story Resonates

Cunningham’s protective role for Caitlin Clark has elevated her from bench player to viral figure—especially after the Connecticut Sun incident. SIyardbarker.com

Dave McLane’s Comic Con remarks and Jeanie Buss’s social media pitch fired the starting gun on a potential wrestling crossover. Wikipedia+8Awful Announcing+8BroBible+8

Cunningham’s own open-minded response, admitting she grew up loving wrestling and is “not not interested.” Athlon Sportsyardbarker.com

The broader cultural context: a growing trend of athletes pushing into entertainment, and WOW enabling that for women. WikipediaBroBible

Media coverage and fan reaction link her basketball fame to wrestling potential—creating a story that’s as much narrative entertainment as sports news.