Sophie Cunningham, who plays a point-based game, says her value is 'not always in the stat sheet'

This story originally appeared on Them.

When it comes to her performance on the court, Sophie Cunningham has a message: she is not her numbers.

The Indiana Fever guard defended her controversial image on a recent episode of her podcast No Hesitation, which she hosts alongside basketball coach Drew Hanlen.

At the top of the October 9 episode of the podcast, the co-hosts discussed an article in The Athletic published earlier this month that argued that the Indiana Fever should part ways with Cunningham, citing her presence as “too combustible,” and claiming that it has overtaken her contribution to the team given that she “averages fewer than 8 points a game.” Cunningham offered a rebuttal on No Hesitation, questioning the validity of taking her (not always impressive) stats into account in the first place.

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“I literally don't even care what anybody says about me anymore, because I've said this so many times — if yo’'re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate,” Cunningham said. “No matter what anybody says to me, I’m going to continue to do me. I know what I bring to the table, it’s not always in the stat sheet.”

The WNBA player has become a controversial figure in the league for her outspoken opposition to the inclusion of trans athletes in professional sports. While speaking to ESPN for a July profile, Cunningham was asked about her stance on trans athletes and responded with a series of anti-trans dogwhistles.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men.”

Those comments — and the subsequent backlash — appear to have been just the start of Cunningham’s anti-trans advocacy. The athlete has since posed alongside Trump sycophant Riley Gaines, who sued the NCAA over its trans policies; she also sported anti-trans merch at the University of Missouri’s homecoming football game.

Most recently, Cunningham reaffirmed her stance by praising a group of young cisgender girls on a Washington State high school’s cross-country team who protested the presence of a trans athlete. On October 13, a group of athletes walked off the field during a meet to protest the presence of a transgender athlete on the team. The high school protest came just as Washington State voters are set to vote on Initiative 638, which seeks to ban trans athletes from sports that match their gender identity statewide.

The action garnered national media attention, including from groups that oppose trans athletes. In an Instagram post made on October 14, XX-XY Athletics, an apparel brand that makes clothes featuring anti-trans messaging, posted video of the protest with the caption “Refuse to pretend.”

On Saturday, Cunningham commented on the post.

“Good work girls,” Cunningham wrote in a comment under the viral video.

Cunningham’s 2026 season average matches her career average of just under 8 points per game, with her rebounds and assists per game average dipping compared to her average career stats, per the WNBA.

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