Sophie Cunningham is having quite the 2025.
Her name has been buzzing for good and bad things for the past few months.
The buzz surrounding her started after she was alleged to have had an affair with married Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, according to a lawsuit.
Gene Traylor, a Suns employee and former director of safety, security, and risk management, alleges he told Bartelstein that Cornelius Craig, the franchise’s vice president of security and risk management, had been telling people that Bartelstein allegedly was having an affair with Cunningham.
That news would eventually die out.
Then last month, a skirmish between Caitlin Clark and multiple members of the Sun led to Sophie Cunningham grabbing Sun guard Jacy Sheldon by her neck and throwing her to the ground.
She was ejected from the game. She gained thousands, if not millions, of new fans because of her actions.
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More recently, Cunningham made it clear she wasn’t eager to visit two of the league’s newest expansion teams when they begin play in the coming years.
“It’s a hard decision-making situation, but, man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” Cunningham said Tuesday morning ahead of shootaround for the Commissioner’s Cup final.
Sophie Cunningham Gets Called Maga Barbie
Over the past year, Sophie Cunningham has become a liked and disliked figure within the WNBA fan base.
She has also been accused of being a supporter of President Donald Trump.
Because of that, fans have started to refer to her as “MAGA Barbie.”
“Mind you, maga barbie is saying this from Indiana 🤡,” one fan said.
mind you maga barbie is saying this from indiana 🤡 https://t.co/z8Ly9FJ4aN
— gabb (@gabbgoudy) July 1, 2025
“These cities are dragging MAGA Barbie,” a second fan stated.
These cities are dragging MAGA Barbie https://t.co/onT3NrRtoN pic.twitter.com/gd6J2YU9FJ
— Pam Burke (@pamburkespeaks) July 1, 2025
“The thought of MAGA barbie getting booed while playing in Detroit if she’s still even in the league by then,” a third fan said of Sophie Cunningham.
The thought of MAGA barbie getting booed while playing in Detroit if she's still even in the league by then pic.twitter.com/HmzxDiqVxT
— Azzi Fudd is a National Champion (@Yourbestbreak) July 1, 2025
