In an unexpected turn during the 2025 WNBA offseason, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has acknowledged feeling uneasy after eclipsing teammate Caitlin Clark in a major popularity measure: Google search rankings.
Google’s annual Year in Search list for 2025 placed Cunningham as the seventh most-searched athlete in the United States, making her the only woman and the lone WNBA player to crack the top 10. Clark, who occupied the exact same No. 7 position in 2024 and was widely viewed as the engine behind the league’s massive surge in attention, was notably absent from this year’s rankings.
Appearing on her podcast, Show Me Something, Cunningham brushed off the milestone while admitting it felt strange to surpass the league’s most recognizable figure. “I think it’s kind of cool, but there’s no real feeling towards it,” she explained. When her co-host highlighted the irony—Clark, the face of women’s basketball, not even making the list—Cunningham seemed torn. “Yeah, it’s weird,” she said, noting how odd it felt to attract more online interest than the player who has reshaped the WNBA’s public profile.
Cunningham’s sudden spike in search traffic can be traced to one defining moment during the 2025 regular season. On June 17, during a tense game against the Connecticut Sun, Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye, escalating emotions after an earlier shove by teammate Marina Mabrey. Cunningham, known for her intensity and loyalty, responded by delivering a hard foul on Sheldon that earned her a Flagrant 2 and immediate ejection. The footage spread rapidly online, casting Cunningham as Clark’s “enforcer” or “bodyguard” in the eyes of fans.
Almost overnight, Cunningham’s online presence exploded. Her Instagram following jumped by hundreds of thousands, while her TikTok account surged from roughly 300,000 followers to more than 1.2 million. Merchandise sales climbed, sponsorship opportunities flooded in, and she launched her own podcast to ride the wave of attention. Many fans applauded her willingness to stand up for Clark, praising her in a league where Clark had frequently endured physical play. The incident also reignited league-wide discussions about player safety, officiating standards, and the intense scrutiny surrounding Clark.
Yet Cunningham’s rise coincided with a period when Clark was less visible on the court. The Fever star appeared in just 13 games in 2025 before a lingering groin injury ended her season. Even in limited action, Clark produced strong numbers and helped guide Indiana into the playoffs. The Fever, leaning on depth and determination, reached the semifinals and pushed the Las Vegas Aces to a decisive Game 5—despite being without Clark and later losing Cunningham as well, after she suffered a season-ending MCL injury in August.
Clark’s absence likely played a role in her disappearance from the Google rankings. Her 2024 rookie season had been historic, delivering record-breaking TV ratings, sold-out crowds, and a cultural wave that introduced millions to women’s basketball. She finished that year as the seventh most-searched athlete overall, trailing only the biggest names across sports. But with fewer appearances and reduced national exposure in 2025, search interest naturally dipped, allowing Cunningham’s viral moment to seize the spotlight.
Cunningham, a seasoned guard acquired by Indiana in an offseason trade from the Phoenix Mercury, posted respectable numbers before her injury—about 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and reliable three-point shooting. Away from the court, she leaned into her role alongside Clark, developing a close bond that showed through shared appearances, golf outings, and lighthearted exchanges on social media. Still, she has consistently stressed that Clark remains the league’s true catalyst. “If you’re smart, you’re making money off of [the attention Clark brings],” Cunningham said earlier in the season, defending her teammate amid criticism.
The unease Cunningham described reflects this imbalance. While her popularity surge is undeniable—and has unlocked fresh opportunities, including potential lucrative stints overseas with ventures like Project B—she credits much of it to her association with Clark. “A huge part of this is because of CC,” analysts have observed, echoing a common media refrain. Cunningham herself has labeled it a “late bloomer” phase, joking on her podcast about landing on the list while others “haven’t done s***,” even poking fun at her own role.
The moment illustrates how unpredictable digital fame can be in women’s basketball. Clark’s influence propelled the WNBA from a niche product into the mainstream, lifting attendance, viewership, and investment across the league. Yet in 2025, a single show of teammate loyalty briefly elevated Cunningham ahead in online attention. Fan reactions ranged from humor to heated debate—some celebrated Cunningham’s toughness and personality, while others insisted her rise was inseparable from Clark’s gravitational pull.
As the offseason continues, both players face pivotal decisions. Cunningham is entering unrestricted free agency, sparking speculation about whether she will remain in Indiana or pursue more lucrative opportunities abroad. Clark, now healthy and back in Team USA training camps, is focused on a fully fit 2026 campaign. Their brief on-court partnership, interrupted by injuries, hinted at strong chemistry, pairing Clark’s creativity with Cunningham’s shooting and edge.
In the end, Cunningham’s candid admission highlights a broader reality of the modern WNBA: fame is collective, magnified, and occasionally redistributed in surprising ways. While she may have outpaced Clark in search rankings this year, few question who still anchors the league’s long-term appeal. As Cunningham put it herself, “People want to know more about me!”—even as she acknowledges that much of that curiosity begins with the superstar playing beside her.