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Sophie Cunningham Converts Hard Foul into Social Media Windfall

Defending Caitlin Clark led to her ejection, fines, a 900,000-follower TikTok gain, a 300,000-follower Instagram gain, rising jersey sales

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon scuffle.
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Overview

  • Cunningham’s hard foul on Jacy Sheldon in the final minute of the June 17 Fever–Sun game resulted in both players’ ejections and a $400 Flagrant 2 fine plus an additional undisclosed penalty
  • Her TikTok audience swelled from about 302,000 to more than 1.2 million within days of the incident, while her Instagram following climbed by over 300,000 to surpass 800,000
  • Sportico estimates that the rapid jump in Cunningham’s social media reach could be worth upwards of $1 million in endorsement value
  • The Indiana Fever’s online store reports that Cunningham’s jerseys are now selling out quickly and scheduled to ship on or before July 8
  • Dubbed “the enforcer,” Cunningham brings a black belt in Taekwondo earned at age six and a family lineage of University of Missouri athletes to her fiercely protective court presence