Sophie Cunningham Hires 24/7 Security After WNBA Firestorm

Sophie Cunningham, the 30-year-old WNBA free agent who has become one of the most talked-about players in the league this year, admitted on her own podcast that a specific part of women's basketball is "a joke."

Speaking on the "No Hesitation" podcast with longtime NBA trainer Drew Hanlen, Cunningham asked a question that many fans have noticed but few players have addressed publicly.

"Why do women basketball players, why do we miss so many wide open layups?" she asked Hanlen.

"Like it's a joke, because it actually happened."

Cunningham was referring to the frequency of missed layups in the WNBA — shots that appear uncontested and should be routine makes for professional players.

Hanlen, who has trained NBA stars including Joel Embiid and Bradley Beal, offered a theory based on physical differences between the men's and women's game.

He argued that women's basketball players are less athletic and not as strong as their male counterparts.

As a result, he said, they are not getting as close to the basket as NBA players do.

The closer a player is to the rim, the easier it is to make a shot.

But Cunningham pushed back on that explanation.

She noted that many of the missed layups she was talking about are wide open — meaning there is no defender preventing the player from getting to the rim.

Hanlen did not have an answer for that.

The rim height is the same in both the WNBA and the NBA: 10 feet.

The average height in the WNBA is 6 feet tall, according to league data.

The average height in the NBA is 6 feet 6 inches.

That six-inch difference could explain why NBA players are closer to the rim on average and therefore convert layups at a higher rate.

But Cunningham's blunt admission — calling the issue a "joke" — has reignited a long-running debate about the quality of play in the WNBA.

Some critics have used her comments to argue that the league is not as competitive as the NBA.

Others say she was simply stating an observable truth based on her nine years of professional experience.

Cunningham has played in the WNBA since 2019, when she was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury.

She spent four seasons with the Mercury before signing with the Indiana Fever in 2023.

Now she is a free agent again, with her contract having expired at the end of the 2026 season.

Her value on the court is clear: she is known as a lights-out shooter and a veteran leader.

But her value off the court has grown even more dramatically in recent months.

In July 2026, Cunningham gave an interview to ESPN in which she said that young girls "shouldn't have to go against biological men."

That comment, made in the context of the ongoing debate about transgender athletes in women's sports, sparked immediate and widespread reactions.

There were nationwide protests, both for and against her position.

The White House issued an official statement.

Cunningham became a lightning rod in a culture war that extends far beyond basketball.

Her social media following exploded.

According to Brendan Kaminsky of the analytics firm bknown, Cunningham gained more Instagram followers in 2026 than the other 49 most-followed WNBA players combined.

That is a staggering statistic for a player who, before this year, was known primarily within WNBA circles as a respected veteran guard.

The attention has come with a heavy price.

In a recent episode of her podcast, Cunningham revealed that she has hired around-the-clock security.

"I was already starting…definitely in certain places people kind of knew who I was, and I couldn't really go anywhere," she explained.

"Now it's like, it doesn't matter what state, what city, it's everywhere."

She said her security team will begin traveling with her 24/7 starting next week.

"So, that's a little different," she added.

"But yeah, it just kind of stops you from your regular routine."

Cunningham also disclosed during an appearance on Theo Von's "This Past Weekend" podcast that the FBI is monitoring roughly 20 people who have targeted her.

"We do have a lot of stalkers," she said of WNBA players in general.

"I know I do. And like, that's the negative side of things that people don't think about."

"I have, I think, 20 … people that the FBI are watching for me. Me alone."

In June 2026, an Indiana man was charged in Marion County with stalking and intimidation involving Cunningham — both Level 6 felonies — along with a misdemeanor count of harassment.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the man allegedly sent Cunningham threatening messages.

That case is ongoing.

Despite the security concerns, Cunningham is continuing to build her brand.

She hosts the "No Hesitation" podcast, which has grown a significant audience beyond the basketball world.

She also has a business venture called Project B, which she said will start up in January 2027.

"It's becoming a businesswoman," Cunningham told the U.S. Mirror.

"It's owning things. It's growing into who I am, and my personal life and my faith, but also on the basketball court."

Her free agency status adds another layer of uncertainty to her future.

The 2027 WNBA free agent class is considered one of the deepest in league history.

Cunningham is expected to draw significant interest from multiple teams.

But her recent comments about layups — and the controversy surrounding her political statements — may affect how teams evaluate her.

Some franchises may see her as a marketing asset.

Others may view the constant security and media attention as a distraction.

Cunningham herself seems aware of the balancing act.

"You have to kind of find a balance of getting away and making sure that you're filling up your own cup and doing what you're supposed to so when you're out, you're able to give people your best energy too," she said on her podcast.

"That's super important to me, just being nice and being positive and treating people how I wish I could be treated."

The WNBA has not issued an official response to Cunningham's comments about missed layups.