Trump’s Comments on Sophie Cunningham Draw Criticism

At a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Donald Trump praised Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s appearance and suggested she could boost attendance rather than the team’s scoring, drawing criticism that the remarks diminished her value as a player. Trump raised Cunningham while discussing transgender athletes; Cunningham has opposed trans women competing in women’s sports and has said she is politically moderate and does not hate transgender people. In 2026, she averaged 7.9 points per game, shot 41.9% from three-point range, and served as a useful bench player and defensive enforcer for Indiana. Cunningham has not directly responded to Trump’s comments, and her future with the Fever is uncertain as she approaches free agency.