Sophie Cunningham Skyrockets with 500K New Followers After Boldly Defending Caitlin Clark in Explosive On-Court Altercation—Fans Rally Behind Her Unwavering Loyalty! Social Media Erupts as the Shocking Incident Sends Cunningham’s Popularity Soaring. Don’t Miss the Full Story Everyone’s Talking About.

Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham has exploded in popularity this week after standing up for her teammate Caitlin Clark during a tense matchup with the Connecticut Sun. What began as an intense on-court altercation quickly turned Cunningham into a viral sensation and one of the most talked-about players in the WNBA.

The incident unfolded during a fiery game in which Clark endured several hard fouls, including a poke to the eye by Jacy Sheldon and a shove to the floor by another Sun player. The sequence drew outrage from fans and sparked debate about whether Clark is being unfairly targeted in her rookie season.

Cunningham didn’t let it slide. Late in the game, she responded physically to Sheldon in what many saw as a calculated move to stand up for her teammate. The moment was captured on national television and quickly went viral on social media.

Since then, Cunningham’s star has skyrocketed. By Wednesday, her WNBA jersey had sold out on the league’s official website. Even more impressively, she gained over 500,000 new followers on TikTok in just a matter of days, according to tracking site Social Blade.

Cunningham leaned into her sudden fame with humor, posting a playful TikTok set to Selena Gomez’s “Hands to Myself,” joking about the attention she’s received since the altercation.

Fans and media have praised Cunningham for her toughness and willingness to defend her teammate, especially as Clark continues to face physical play in her first WNBA season.

The moment not only solidified Cunningham’s role as an enforcer on the court, but also elevated her status as one of the WNBA’s breakout personalities of 2025.