Sophie Cunningham makes fan’s day with sweet gesture

The young fan was in disbelief upon receiving Cunningham’s Adidas shoes. The Fever star even posed for a picture with the fan and with the mother-daughter duo later.

Cunningham is perhaps the second most loved player among the Indiana fans on the Fever roster. She has reciprocated that love towards her fans.

In the blowout win, Cunningham scored an efficient 13 points, shooting 4 of 6 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from the 3-point line. She also recorded 3 assists and 2 steals in 27 minutes.

But Cunningham has also been part of the controversy lately. Her comments on transgender athletes’ participation have drawn a lot of criticism.

Before the Fever-Fire game, people stood outside the arena in protest over her comments.

Sophie Cunningham addresses protest over her transgender athletes comments

Before the Fire-Fever game on Friday, outside Moda Center, a group stood with placards. They were voicing their protest over Cunningham’s comments about trans athletes in ESPN’s exclusive interview.

“I think at the end of the day, I come in, and I do my job,” Cunningham said, per ESPN. “I think everyone who knows me personally, they know that I’m full of love. I’m bubbly. I love the people around me. I love basketball. I love inspiring the next generation and doing that in a positive light. And so that doesn’t even cross my mind. Doesn’t cross my teammates’ minds.”

Cunningham is having arguably her best year. She is averaging 9.8 points, her best in the last three years. She is also shooting 48.2% from the field and 44.3% from the 3-point line. It’s been her best shooting year.

“And again, I’m here to play basketball, but I’m also here to be me, and I’m not gonna like shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don’t agree with that,” she added.

In her interview with ESPN on July 21, Cunningham had said that young women “shouldn’t have to go against biological men” in sports. She added she was in support of protecting “young girls in the locker room.”

Last week, people gathered outside the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle in protest against the Fever player before the Fever-Storm game.