Sophie Cunningham’s popularity surged alongside her teammate and close friend Caitlin Clark, boosting her endorsements and brand partnerships this season. However, during a recent West Coast road trip, a trolling comment from Clark nearly jeopardized Cunningham’s budding swimsuit brand collaborations.

Following a game against the Connecticut Sun where Cunningham made a physically dominant play, fans embraced her role as Clark’s unofficial enforcer, catapulting her social media presence. This led to major brands such as Adidas, Arby’s, and Ring reaching out with partnership offers. Yet after Cunningham and teammate Lexie Hull posted bikini photos from Los Angeles, Caitlin Clark publicly trolled them online, urging swimsuit companies to have her teammates “focus on basketball.” Cunningham addressed this trolling on her podcast, revealing the tension it caused.

Sophie Cunningham Details the Strain on Brand Deals Caused by Clark’s Comments

On her recent podcast episode, Cunningham expressed frustration over Clark’s trolling, revealing the impact on potential endorsements.

“I’m going to kill her. Dude, you are ruining me and Lexi’s deals… She stays trolling me and Lexi,”

Cunningham said emphatically. The 28-year-old added that five brands had shown interest, but continued trolling from Clark risked damaging these opportunities.

Cunningham pushed back, telling Clark that it was she and Lexie Hull who were actively playing and deserved breaks, while Clark was sidelined due to injury and thus in no position to criticize. This clash illustrates the tensions behind the scenes within the Fever roster, highlighting the delicate balance between personal relationships and professional image management.

Strong Bonds Among Sophie Cunningham, Lexie Hull, and Caitlin Clark

Since joining the WNBA, Caitlin Clark initially built close relationships with young teammates Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull. As the season evolved, Hull emerged as Clark’s closest ally, followed by former teammate Katie Lou Samuelson who has since departed the team. Sophie Cunningham has since stepped into this inner circle, forming a trio nicknamed ‘Tres Leches’ by Cunningham herself.

The three athletes are often seen spending time together outside of team duties, with Cunningham and Hull providing strong support to Clark during her ongoing recovery from a groin injury. The camaraderie off the court has been important for Clark, who prefers to surround herself with trusted friends, making Cunningham’s potential contract renewal with the Fever a point of interest for fans and analysts.

Clarifying the Dispute with DeWanna Bonner in Phoenix

Before this season, the Indiana Fever signed seasoned players Sophie Cunningham and DeWanna Bonner, but Bonner’s tenure was short-lived, ending after just nine games. This split drew scrutiny, and Cunningham used her podcast to address tensions. She claimed Bonner had acted unprofessionally by leaving without notifying teammates and said this contributed to a significant loss against Bonner’s new team, the Phoenix Mercury.

“There was a little bit of beef, maybe due to our last podcast… I told her she didn’t listen to the whole clip, she just saw the thing about she could’ve handled it more professional. Honestly, everyone that’s talked to me besides their team has said yeah, she could’ve… That team’s just drama to me.”

Cunningham explained that this miscommunication fueled conflict during a game where both players tangled on the court and Bonner reportedly trash-talked other Fever players. Despite the drama, Cunningham suggested that the issue was partly due to Bonner not fully hearing her comments but rather reacting to a selective clip.

Impact on Sophie Cunningham’s Rising Career and Brand Opportunities

Sophie Cunningham’s evolving role on the Indiana Fever and close ties to superstar Caitlin Clark have elevated her profile in the WNBA, attracting attention from major sponsors. Yet the recent public discord arising from Clark’s trolling around Cunningham’s swimsuit brand interests highlights the challenges athletes can face balancing competitive camaraderie with personal and commercial relationships.

For Cunningham and Lexie Hull, securing sponsorship deals has become a priority amid the increasing scrutiny from social media and teammates. Cunningham’s outspoken reaction underscores the pressure on professional athletes to maintain both performance and image under intense public and private dynamics. How the Fever’s internal relationships develop, especially with Clark’s on-going recovery, will be key to the team’s cohesion moving forward.