Sophie Cunningham hires 24/7 security amid months of controversy

Fox News Sophie Cunningham is now a headline that signals something unprecedented in women’s basketball.

Sophie Cunningham, a 30-year-old WNBA free agent guard, has hired around-the-clock security after months of controversy and threats.

The news broke in a recent episode of her own podcast, the No Hesitation Show.

Cunningham told her audience that security will start traveling with her 24/7 next week.

“It just kind of stops you from your regular routine,” she explained.

“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 added that being nice and positive and treating people how she wishes to be treated remains “super important” to her.

The security detail comes after Cunningham became one of the most famous players in the WNBA — a status she did not hold before this season.

She was already a well-respected veteran guard within WNBA circles.

But her national profile exploded in July 2026 after an ESPN interview.

In that interview, Cunningham said that young girls “shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

The remark drew immediate and widespread reactions across the political spectrum.

It prompted several nationwide protests.

It also drew an official statement from the White House.

According to Brendan Kaminsky of bknown, Cunningham gained more Instagram followers this year than the other 49 most-followed WNBA players combined.

That statistic was reported by the New York Post and MARCA.

The rapid growth made her a mainstream figure well beyond basketball.

On a separate appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, Cunningham disclosed another layer of the situation.

She said the FBI is keeping tabs on 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.”

She added: “I have, I think, 20 … people that the FBI are watching for me. Me alone.”

Back in June 2026, an Indiana man was charged in Marion County with stalking and intimidation involving Cunningham.

Both charges are Level 6 felonies.

He also faces a misdemeanor count of harassment.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Mirror US, the man allegedly sent Cunningham threatening communications.

The case is ongoing.

Cunningham’s rising profile has also brought her into the political crossfire.

Fox News has prominently featured her story, pivoting to praise Cunningham after the GOP’s difficult election night on November 4, 2026.

Awful Announcing reported that the network’s coverage shift was notable.

It described the television equivalent as “a young child putting fingers in their ears and yelling ‘La la la la, I can’t hear you!’”

Cunningham’s name has become a recurring topic on Fox News programs.

Her comments on transgender athletes have made her a flashpoint in the national debate.

The WNBA itself has not issued a formal statement regarding her security arrangements.

Cunningham’s contract with the Indiana Fever expired at the end of the 2026 season.

She is now a free agent ahead of the 2027 WNBA season.

The list of available free agents is considered stacked by league observers.

Cunningham is a nine-year WNBA veteran known as a lights-out shooter.

Her growing off-court profile includes her own podcast, the No Hesitation Show, which has attracted fans outside the basketball world.

On a recent episode of that podcast with trainer Drew Hanlen, Cunningham asked why women basketball players miss so many wide-open layups.

“It’s a joke because it does actually happen… Like wide-open layups,” she said.

Hanlen tried to explain with reasons citing size and strength, but could not fully account for the difference.

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

The average height in the WNBA is 6 feet 0 inches.

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

Cunningham acknowledged that sharing this observation could give anti-WNBA fans more reasons to dismiss the league.

But she framed it as an objective truth based on her experience as a professional athlete.

That episode added to the ongoing conversation around her public persona.

She has also called out men who think they could crush WNBA stars, according to Fashion Times UK.

“Why do men have that mindset?” she asked.

And she has criticized the WNBA over three-point contest selections, saying “It’s clearly so political,” as reported by Basketball Network.

Cunningham’s social media growth during the WNBA’s transgender controversy has been described as explosive.

MARCA reported that no one benefited more than Cunningham from the controversy in terms of numbers.

But the attention has come with a personal cost.

“I was already starting… definitely in certain places people kind of knew who I was, and I couldn’t really go anywhere,” she said on her podcast.

“Now it’s like, it doesn’t matter what state, what city, it’s everywhere.”

That is when she decided to hire 24/7 security.

The cost of that security has not been disclosed.

Cunningham has not named the security firm she is using.

She has not said whether the Indiana Fever or the WNBA are contributing to the cost.

The league’s security protocols for players are not publicly detailed in this context.

Cunningham’s situation raises questions about player safety in the WNBA.

It also highlights the real-world consequences of entering a politically charged national debate.

Her free agency status adds another layer to the story.

Where she signs could determine the next chapter of her career — and the next wave of attention.

Teams interested in her must weigh her on-court production against the off-court spotlight she now carries.

Cunningham has not indicated any preference for her next team.

She has not announced a timeline for her decision.

The 2027 WNBA season is expected to begin in May 2027.

Training camps typically open in April.

That leaves several months for the free agency process to play out.

In the meantime, Cunningham continues to record her podcast and maintain her public presence.

She has not canceled any scheduled appearances.

Her security team is now a permanent part of her travel routine.

The FBI’s involvement — monitoring roughly 20 individuals — is not something the bureau typically confirms or comments on in individual cases.

Cunningham’s disclosure on Theo Von’s podcast is the only public source for that information.

The Marion County stalking case remains active.

Court records have not been sealed, but further proceedings are not yet publicly scheduled.

The man charged has not entered a plea in open court as of this writing.

Cunningham has not commented on the case beyond her podcast remarks.

Fox News continues to cover her story regularly.

The network’s coverage has framed her as a symbol of free speech and women’s sports integrity.

Critics argue that the network is using her story for political purposes.

Cunningham herself has not aligned publicly with any political party.