When Caitlin Clark got to the WNBA in 2024, she started unprecedented visibility for the league. The Indiana Fever rookie didn’t just light up the court; she ramped up TV ratings, boosted attendance league-wide, and brought millions of new fans to women’s basketball.
But she couldn’t have expected what would follow a few months later: Clark’s teammate Sophie Cunningham found herself surpassing the superstar in a key category in 2025. And instead of celebrating, the rising Fever forward admitted she felt… uncomfortable because of it.
Cunningham outranks Clark in Google search popularity
Clark became one of the most searched athletes in the United States in 2024, finishing No. 7 overall according to Google Trends. Her record-breaking college career at Iowa and her transition to the WNBA made her a national phenomenon.
However, in 2025, Clark didn’t land inside the top 10 list at all. Instead, it was Sophie Cunningham ranked No. 7, this time above Clark entirely.
Cunningham addressed the surprise during an episode of her Show Me Something podcast.
I really don’t know how to feel about that.
Cunningham admitted.
You’re the only female up there, so that was pretty cool. But there’s like no real feeling towards it.
Cunningham tries to understand the accolade
Maybe last year she was number one, like this is just this year.
The forward explained, and added.
She blew up in college.
Why the world is in love with Sophie Cunningham
Cunningham has experienced a surge in the digital world since mid-2025. Her popularity went crazy after a heated game against the Connecticut Sun when she confronted Jacy Sheldon following a poke to teammate Clark’s eye.
That moment instantly went viral, and Cunningham’s social media following skyrocketed:
- +300,000 followers on Instagram
- TikTok following jumped from 300K to 1.2 million
Suddenly, she wasn’t just a role player; she became one of the most recognizable faces in the WNBA.
Cunningham occupies the trending slot not only because of her style of play, but also because her content is entertaining, from pics, videos, to her podcast, the Fever player is doing it all and has been authentic.
The Fever won the lottery; they not only have one of the best players in the world, but now have two players positioned as cultural forces, each driving interest in different ways.
2026 looks really promising for the Indiana franchise on and off the court, two of the most important things that a team always looks for in terms of success, the sports kind and the cultural one.
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