Sophie Cunningham surpasses Caitlin Clark in Instagram followers after stance on trans athletes
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 30, 2026, 5:45 AM
Last updated Aug 30, 2026
Sophie Cunningham, a bench player for the Indiana Fever, has gained significant popularity, amassing over 4.1 million followers on Instagram, surpassing teammate Caitlin Clark, who has 4 million. Cunningham's rise follows her comments against trans athletes in late July, which sparked a political movement and both support and opposition during Fever games. Her open stance has attracted media attention, with pro-and-anti rallies emerging in recent weeks. While Clark leads on the court, averaging 22.5 points per game, Cunningham's follower increase reflects a shift in fanbase driven by her political stance rather than her on-court performance.
- •Cunningham has 4.1 million Instagram followers as of August 30.
- •Clark trails with 4 million followers.
- •Cunningham's popularity surged after comments on trans athletes in July.
- •Pro-and-anti Cunningham rallies occurred at Fever games recently.
- •Clark leads in scoring but Cunningham's follower growth reflects political engagement.
- 5:45 AMYahoo Sports — Sophie Cunningham passes Caitlin Clark in IG followers after her stance on trans athletes in WNBA
"Indiana Fever bench player Sophie Cunningham has become the second-most-followed WNBA star on Instagram, overtaking teammate Caitlin Clark. The boom in WNBA attendance and viewership since 2024 is often called the ‘Caitlin Clark effect,’ but it seems Clark’s popularity might soon fall by the wayside compared to her role-playing teammate.
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