Sophie Cunningham became one of the most talked-about faces in the WNBA this season, but most of the time it wasn’t because of her performance on the court. A viral confrontation, outspoken views, and a series of controversies brought the Indiana Fever guard into the spotlight well beyond basketball. But now that spotlight has translated into a remarkable achievement, as Cunningham has recorded a social media surge that has left some of the biggest names in the sport behind.

According to an X post by NBA Central, Cunningham gained 2,952,195 Instagram followers between May 8 and November 2, surpassing the combined follower gains of the other 49 most-followed WNBA players during that period. She also reportedly gained more followers than any NBA player, including stars such as Jalen Brunson, who gained 1,054,241 followers, and Victor Wembanyama, who saw 763,134 new loyalists, as her own following more than tripled, jumping from 1,403,868 to 4,356,063.

A closer look at herInstagram growth through InsTrack reveals two significant periods when Sophie Cunningham’s popularity took off. The first came in late June, when her following climbed from around 1.5 million to 2.5 million between June 25 and July 13. And that, interestingly, coincided with one of the most talked-about moments of her WNBA season.

On June 22, during the Fever’s matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Cunningham stepped in during a heated exchange between teammate Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner. What followed was an unusually long, wordless confrontation, with the Fever guard pointing her finger directly at Bonner for approximately 22 seconds. The moment quickly went viral, turning into an internet meme that even attracted attention from the White House and UFC personalities.

However, that was only the beginning of her increased social media attention. Her following nearly doubled again after she became a major talking point following a July 21 interview with ESPN, in which she shared her views on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

“I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Sophie Cunningham said back then.

Her remarks immediately sparked a nationwide debate, drawing criticism from some fans while earning support from others who agreed with her position. But this controversy also extended beyond social media, with demonstrations and counter-demonstrations taking place outside WNBA arenas during the Fever road games. So with supporters rallying behind her and critics continuing to challenge her views, the Fever guard remained firmly in the spotlight.

All that attention has now translated into one of the biggest Instagram growth stories among professional basketball players in 2026. However, the spotlight will soon shift back to basketball, as the 30-year-old Sophie Cunningham heads into the offseason and prepares to enter free agency.

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