Sophie Cunningham tells everyone to ‘look at her stats’ to show politics isn’t affecting the Fever

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has spoken out against critics who believe her political stances are negatively impacting her performance. Averaging 8.6 points over the 2026 WNBA season, Cunningham has become a prominent figure in the debate over trans athletes in women's sports. Despite her increased visibility, Cunningham insists that her on-court performance has remained unaffected.

The Fever's star player addressed these concerns before their Saturday evening game against the New York Liberty. She urged reporters to examine her statistics as evidence that the political attention she has garnered is not a distraction. "Look at my stats… I don't know why people think this is such a big distraction… Great time to be a Fever," Cunningham said.

The political climate has certainly affected Cunningham's production, however. Since a spike in attention towards her stance against trans athletes in late July, her scoring has dropped from an average of 9.4 points per game to 6.9 points per game over the past 12 games. This downward trend began even before the recent losses to the Wings and the Liberty. Her shooting percentage from three-point range has also remained relatively stable, at 43.7% before the attention and 47.2% since.

Cunningham's comments come as the Fever are currently riding a five-game win streak. While the team's success may provide a buffer against criticism, it is clear that her stats have suffered since the spotlight on her political views intensified.