Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham didn’t just help her team win their first-ever Commissioner’s Cup—it was her postgame celebration that stole the spotlight. The 28-year-old guard, who poured in 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench during a commanding 74‑59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx, became an instant viral sensation for one brief, unforgettable move: twerking during a locker room Instagram Live.
That moment, captured and shared by BricksCenter on X, has already amassed over 1.5 million views. “Sophie Cunningham twerking after winning the Cup ” read the post’s caption—and fans wholeheartedly agreed. One fan tweeted, “Sophie for the culture!”, another confessed, “I would treat her so well man,” and yet another declared, “Sophie carrying the WNBA on her back.”
Cunningham has become known not just for her on-court performance but also for her vibrant personality and protective, hard-nosed play. In a recent game, she famously stepped in to defend Caitlin Clark, even drawing a flagrant foul in the process—earning both a $400 fine and admiration from teammates and fans alike. That no-holds-barred style earned her the nickname “enforcer,” a role she’s embraced wholeheartedly since being traded to the Fever from Phoenix earlier this year.
This season hasn’t just been noteworthy for Cunningham’s gritty defense—it’s also seen her popularity skyrocket online. Since spring, she’s added over a million followers on TikTok, hitting roughly 1.5 million, with nearly 740,000 followers on Instagram. Her jersey sales have soared, and brand deals are already following her rise, propelled by her authentic personality and viral locker-room moments.
The Commissioner’s Cup itself is more than just a mid-season novelty—it carries serious stakes. The Fever earned a cool $500,000 prize pool, equating to approximately $30,000–$45,000 per player, along with a $10,000 charity donation to Indianapolis’s Peace Learning Center. While Natasha Howard turned in a dominant performance—including MVP-level production—Cunningham’s bench spark and emotional lift helped steer the team to victory.
Beyond the celebration, the Cup win sends a clear message: Indiana is a rising force even without superstar Caitlin Clark, who was sidelined with a groin injury for the final. What’s more, Clark still joined in the postgame jubilation—shotgunning a seltzer, playfully engaging in Instagram Live, and finally joining in the dance circle.
In this moment, Cunningham wasn’t just dancing—she was declaring Indiana’s emergence. That locker room, alive with laughter, champagne, music, and a twerk that set X ablaze, was a microcosm of a team bursting with confidence, camaraderie, and swagger.
Sports fans and WNBA watchers are now split: some elevated Cunningham’s move as the embodiment of thrilling spontaneity and team spirit, others questioned whether it was a bit too risqué for a professional environment. But one thing is clear—Cunningham doesn’t care what people think. She’s authentic, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself—and right now, fans are loving her for it.
From gritty defense to game-changing bench spark, from viral dance moves to social media stardom, Sophie Cunningham is quickly becoming one of the most compelling characters in pro basketball—one who can light up the box score and then light up the internet, all in one night.
And as the Fever ride this momentum—their Cup win, the viral celebration, the buzzworthy personalities—the WNBA product itself comes alive. Sophie’s twerk wasn’t just a dance; it was a statement. Expect to see her, her teammates, and her rising fanbase ready to party again soon—only this time with a bigger trophy on the line.
