The fans just can’t get enough of Sophie Cunningham, and the guard has finally reacted to a rally that was held in her honor. With her teammates off to Berlin, Germany, for the FIBA World Cup, the Indiana Fever guard is enjoying the downtime as the WNBA pauses for the signature FIBA tournament. But her popularity remains unaffected, as she shared her reaction to a post that showed the rally where fans dressed up as her.
“Hahaha, just got sent this,” wrote Cunningham on her Instagram story on September 6, reacting to the post shared with her.
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The clip shared by Cunningham shows fans from varying age groups dressed up as Cunningham in her Fever uniform, complete with wigs that match Cunningham’s blonde hair. Her viral DeWanna Bonner gesture, where Cunningham does her iconic point, can be seen as well, although in a different context. The clip also showed spectators cheering on this parade as it passed through.
Sophie Cunningham has always been in the media and the internet’s limelight. However, ever since her comments about the transgender athletes and their participation in women’s sports in an interview back in July went viral, her popularity has seen quite a bump.
In recent weeks, Cunningham has even surpassed her teammate Caitlin Clark when it comes to Instagramfollowers. By September 1, Cunningham held a slight lead over Clark with 4.1 million followers against 4 million. On the platform TikTok, the gap becomes a blowout: Cunningham’s regular posting has earned her 4 million followers, leaving Clark trailing at 1.2 million. Week after week, Cunningham dominates headlines, from viral dances to fan gestures.
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Earlier in the season, a June 23 matchup between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury saw Cunningham point towards Mercury player DeWanna Bonner for more than 20 seconds using her index finger. That gesture has since translated into a global meme and has become a go-to for anyone who wants to emphasize a point, give directions, or highlight a stance comically.
In the 30 days following this gesture, Cunningham saw an explosive social media surge. According to analytics tracker Social Blade, the Indiana Fever guard pulled in over one million new followers on both Instagram and TikTok during that span.
Then came her comments regarding transgender athletes and their participation in women’s sports. While the controversial saga has since evolved into a league-wide issue, Cunningham’s popularity continues to rise. And the Fever guard’s portfolio reflects her popularity.
Sophie Cunningham’s brand deals and endorsements will make even the top-billed athletes of the sport envious. Among her most notable partnerships is a footwear deal with Adidas that yielded her own player-exclusive “Crazy Energy” sneaker. Her commercial footprint also stretches across lifestyle, wellness, and hospitality through major collaborations with European Wax Center, Quest Nutrition, Marriott Bonvoy, and a prominent ambassadorship with Arby’s.
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Her image continues to draw brands across the spectrum, evident from the fact that Cunningham recently partnered with a coconut water brand. Sophie Cunningham and Once Upon a Coconut announced the partnership through a joint social media post alongside a formal press release.
“Sophie is everything we want this brand to represent,” John Chiorando, CEO and Founder of Once Upon a Coconut, said in a statement. “There is a toughness and resiliency to her, and at the same time, compassion and camaraderie.”
“She can compete at the highest level and stand up for her teammates while always embracing who she is. That combination is rare. Most importantly, she doesn’t try to be anybody other than herself. That authenticity is incredibly powerful,” Chiorando added.
Cunningham has emerged as a larger-than-life icon. Whether it’s her latest calendar release with Sports Illustrated or her reaction to a simple rally, the fanbase clearly resonates with her.
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When Cunningham drew flak for her transgender comments, notable people ranging from US Congressmen, WNBA legends and even the White House press secretary released statements to show their support for her.
There is no sign that indicates that this momentum in Cunningham’s popularity is going to slow down anytime soon.
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