Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is the subject of a new Fox Nation special, “Who Is Sophie Cunningham?”, which traces her path from growing up on a farm in Missouri to becoming one of the more visible personalities in the WNBA.
The special features interviews with former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and activist and former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, both of whom speak about Cunningham’s personality and her growing profile as an advocate in the debate over women’s sports.
“Men are attracted to her, and women want to be her,” Gaines said in the special. Gaines also described Cunningham’s broad appeal, recalling young girls lining up to meet her and get an autograph.
“She’s kind of like 100% tomboy and 100% feminine,” Gaines said. “Sophie is fun and kind and fierce and sassy and tough and cool because all those things make you cool.”
A Viral Moment With Kanter Freedom
Kanter Freedom recounted a private exchange with Cunningham after he was ejected from an Aug. 23 WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever, where he had worn a shirt defining a woman as an “adult human female.”
“After the game, Sophie messaged me and said, ‘So what happened?'” Kanter Freedom said. He said he explained the situation to her but declined to share her response, saying it would “go viral” if made public. “I was literally there just to support [Sophie],” he added.
Speaking Out on Women’s Sports
Cunningham has drawn national attention for her comments on transgender participation in women’s sports. Speaking to ESPN earlier this year, she said: “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think, with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room or young girls in sports who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Since those comments circulated, Cunningham has drawn support from politicians, former athletes and others involved in the same debate, according to the special.
“Who Is Sophie Cunningham?” is streaming now on Fox Nation.
