Sophie Cunningham’s latest recognition shows Indiana Fever are becoming bigger than basketball originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Indiana Fever have spent the opening weeks of the 2026 season living in the spotlight. That comes with the territory when a franchise built around Caitlin Clark continues to dominate headlines, sell tickets and draw national attention every time it steps on the floor. But one of the more interesting developments surrounding Indiana right now has nothing to do with points, assists or playoff projections.
It has everything to do with personality.
That is where Sophie Cunningham continues carving out a lane of her own.
The veteran guard has become one of the most recognizable personalities in the WNBA, blending her on-court toughness with a growing off-court brand that feels increasingly connected to the modern era of women’s sports. Between social media, viral moments and now podcast success, Cunningham is proving that players are no longer confined to what happens during 40 minutes on game night.
And now that growing platform is starting to earn national recognition.
Sophie Cunningham reacts after podcast lands major nominations
Cunningham’s podcast “Show Me Something,” which she co-hosts with reality television personality West Wilson, received nominations for both Best Women’s Sport Content and Best Women’s Sport Podcast.
The show has rapidly built momentum since launching less than a year ago, mixing sports conversations, pop culture moments and behind-the-scenes personality-driven content that has resonated with fans beyond traditional basketball audiences. After the nominations were announced, Cunningham responded with a short but enthusiastic message on social media.
“Yayyy! Thank you listeners 🔥😍”
That reaction may seem simple, but it reflects something much bigger happening around the Fever and the WNBA as a whole. Players are becoming full-scale media personalities, and fans are buying into them beyond basketball.
Cunningham has always had a strong following, but Indiana has amplified everything.
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Indiana’s spotlight continues changing careers
There may not be another franchise in the WNBA receiving more daily attention right now than the Fever. That visibility creates pressure, but it also creates opportunity. Cunningham arrived in Indiana already established after years with the Phoenix Mercury, but her profile has clearly grown since joining the Fever. Her social media following has exploded, her personality has become more recognizable nationally and even her role-player moments routinely generate discussion online.
It is part of the larger effect surrounding Indiana’s rise into one of the league’s premier entertainment brands. And Cunningham has leaned directly into it. The timing also makes the recognition especially notable because it arrives while she is playing some of the best basketball of her career offensively. Through four games, Cunningham is averaging 9.8 points while shooting 52 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range.
She also just delivered her best performance of the young season with 17 points in Indiana’s win over the Seattle Storm.
Sophie Cunningham is becoming one of the WNBA’s most marketable personalities
The WNBA’s growth has created room for players to become more than athletes. Some dominate through highlights. Others through fashion. Others through social media engagement or media ventures. Cunningham is finding success through all of it.
Her personality has always been magnetic, but podcasts give athletes something games cannot always provide: uninterrupted access to who they actually are. Fans feel connected to authenticity, and Cunningham’s popularity reflects that shift in sports culture.
That matters for the league. The more players expand their reach outside the court, the stronger the overall ecosystem becomes for women’s basketball. Indiana just happens to sit at the center of that movement right now.
And Cunningham continues becoming one of the clearest examples of it.
More WNBA news:
- Does Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play tonight? Details on Friday’s game vs Mystics
- Kelsey Plum makes major off-court move during breakout WNBA moment
- Lisa Leslie still believes Team USA missed a huge opportunity with Caitlin Clark
- Lisa Leslie’s latest announcement shows why her influence still stretches far beyond basketball
- Cameron Brink had one message for Caitlin Clark after viral block
