Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) points to her teammates during the first half against the Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Sophie Cunningham's Fever Fame Gets UFC Spotlight

Originally posted on Indiana Fever on SI
By Robin Lundberg | Last updated Jan 24, 2026 10:18 AM ET

Sophie Cunningham has become a bit of a cultural sensation since joining the Indiana Fever. The WNBA veteran's feistiness was well documented before she arrived in Indiana, but her time with the Fever has taken her fame to another level.

This is in large part due to a contest between the Fever and the Connecticut Sun on June 17. That game saw perhaps the most viral moment of the 2025 WNBA season when Cunningham tossed Jacy Sheldon to the floor, an act of retaliation in defense of superstar teammate Caitlin Clark.

Many fans had been waiting for someone to stand up for Clark, something Cunningham made clear was her purpose at the time.

"During that, it was just part of the game. I think the refs had a lot to do with that. It was a build up for a couple years now of them just not protecting the star player of the WNBA. And so, at the end of the day, I'm going to protect my teammates," Cunningham said then.

Since that altercation, Cunningham's popularity has skyrocketed, with fans drawn to her straight-shooter attitude and the fact that she wasn't afraid to physically come to the defense of her teammate.

Dana White Rocks Sophie Cunningham Shirt

Cunningham's scuffle with Sheldon also received attention for how the Fever star appeared to rely on some mixed martial arts techniques to gain the upper hand, and now her stamp of approval has gone all the way up to the top of the UFC.

UFC CEO and President Dana White posted a video promoting the company's event this weekend, and fans quickly noticed he was rocking a Sophie Cunningham shirt—featuring an image complete with her flipping a double bird.

Love the T-Shirt Dana! https://t.co/Hhechmg6se
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) January 23, 2026

The apparel also caught Cunningham's eye, who reacted to White's shirt on Instagram.

"couldn’t love this anymore ," she wrote in the comment section under the post.

Cunningham's Free Agency Remains a Topic for Fever Fans

While the image White was sporting is just another example of how Cunningham has become a phenomenon with the Fever, her future with the team is still not set in stone.

Cunningham will hit free agency as soon as a WNBA CBA is completed, meaning she will be available on the open market. The good news is, all indications are she wants to return to Indiana. After all, her toughness on the court and newfound Fever fame have been beneficial to both parties.

This article first appeared on Indiana Fever on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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