Donald Trump Talks About Sophie Cunningham Again: What Is Their Relationship Really Like?

Donald Trump spoke again about Sophie Cunningham during his rally on October 14 in Kalispell, Montana. Two days after commenting on the player’s attractiveness, the U.S. president claimed he had heard that the Indiana Fever player was “a big fan” of his movement.

Trump again acknowledged that he doesn’t know much about women’s basketball. “I don’t know if she can play,” he said before assuming that she’s probably a good player. But beyond the court, he highlighted what he considers her stance on certain political issues and said that Cunningham brings “sanity.”

Trump portrays Sophie Cunningham as a supporter of his movement

“I like Sophie Cunningham,” Trump said during the event in Montana. He then added that he had heard the player is “a big fan” of him and his movement. His remarks, however, were not backed by any statement from Cunningham in which she publicly identified herself as a Trump supporter.

The distinction is important. Cunningham has indeed expressed views that have found support among conservative circles, particularly her opposition to the participation of transgender women in women’s sports. But when ESPN asked her about her political stance, she described herself as “right in the middle”: she agrees with some ideas from both sides and disagrees with others.

For that reason, the statement made by Trump in Montana should be attributed to the president. There is no statement—at least not publicly—from Cunningham confirming that she is a “big fan” of the movement.

Attention on the player also spread to social media. Trump shared a photo of Cunningham making her well-known finger-pointing gesture, while the official White House account later posted the same image on X. The post once again publicly linked the player to the presidential circle.

The new mention came just two days after the rally held in Youngstown, Ohio. There, Trump had already drawn attention to Cunningham, although on that occasion he spoke mainly about her appearance.

“She’s beautiful,” the president said before joking with Jon Gruden, a former NFL coach, about the possibility of having her on a team. Trump claimed that her presence could help boost attendance at games, though not necessarily the score.

That statement came after Cunningham gained notoriety for her remarks about the participation of transgender women in women’s sports. Her views drew both criticism and support from conservative circles.

Beyond Trump, how did Cunningham perform on the court?

While her name appears more and more frequently in the president’s speeches, Cunningham also wrapped up a significant season on the court. The guard played in 43 games with the Indiana Fever and averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, shooting 41.9% from three-point range.

Her performance dipped toward the end of the season, and she averaged 7.3 points in the first-round series against the Las Vegas Aces, in which Indiana was eliminated. Now, she also faces a decision about her future: her contract has expired, and she is an unrestricted free agent.

The relationship between Trump and Cunningham has one clear characteristic: it is the president who has publicly taken the initiative to praise her and associate her with his movement. The player has expressed views that align with parts of the conservative narrative, but she has also identified as a centrist and has not confirmed the political support that Trump attributed to her.