Sophie Cunningham opens up about uncomfortable fan encounter as WNBA spotlight continues growing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The massive growth of the WNBA has brought larger audiences, bigger media attention and more recognizable stars than ever before. But as Sophie Cunningham recently explained, that increased visibility can also create uncomfortable and sometimes unsettling moments away from the court.
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Speaking on her “Show Me Something” podcast, the Indiana Fever guard described a recent encounter with a fan that crossed a personal boundary during a trip back from Nashville.
“I had someone drive like half a mile to like follow me to my car to take a photo with me,” Cunningham said, according to the report from EssentiallySports. “Like how it’s like just so random.”
Cunningham added that she personally would never go to similar lengths to approach someone in the public eye, which made the situation feel especially uncomfortable.
WNBA stars are navigating a completely different level of visibility
Cunningham has become one of the more recognizable personalities in the league over the past several seasons, especially since joining an Indiana Fever team that already features massive national attention surrounding Caitlin Clark. That visibility has helped push the WNBA into a new era commercially. Attendance numbers are climbing, television audiences continue growing and players are becoming household names in ways the league has long wanted.
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But the downside of that popularity is also becoming increasingly apparent. The report referenced multiple situations involving WNBA players dealing with uncomfortable fan behavior, including Cunningham’s comments about fake online accounts impersonating her and attempting to scam people financially.
Cunningham said an acquaintance informed her that an elderly person nearly wired $30,000 to someone pretending to be her online. Those types of situations highlight how quickly athlete visibility can spiral beyond basketball itself.
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Caitlin Clark and other WNBA stars have dealt with similar situations
The article also pointed to a moment involving Clark during her rookie season when she alerted officials about a fan heckling her during a playoff game against the Connecticut Sun. Security reportedly removed the individual from the arena afterward. Meanwhile, Brittney Griner experienced a highly publicized airport confrontation in 2023 involving social media personality Alex Stein.
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Those incidents have become part of a larger conversation surrounding player safety, public access and the evolving reality of fame in women’s basketball. Cunningham acknowledged during a recent GQ Sports interview that fan interactions can vary dramatically depending on the situation.
“You’re asking the right person,” Cunningham said. “I get a lot of like, old creepy men.”
At the same time, she also emphasized the positive side of the league’s growth, specifically mentioning young boys and girls who are becoming invested in the WNBA for the first time.
The WNBA’s growth comes with new challenges
The league has already taken steps aimed at improving player security, including expanded charter travel and stricter conduct policies for fans. Still, Cunningham’s comments serve as another reminder that the WNBA’s explosion in popularity is creating challenges that leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB have dealt with for decades.
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For players, the attention is helping elevate careers, salaries and visibility. But it is also forcing athletes to navigate situations that can quickly become uncomfortable when admiration crosses personal boundaries. As the league continues growing, balancing accessibility with player safety will likely remain one of the WNBA’s biggest long-term conversations.
