Sophie Cunningham has spent the past year becoming one of the WNBA’s most controversial figures, and the storm intensified when the Phoenix Mercury made her the face of their quirky schedule-release skit. What was meant to be a light-hearted “awkward family photo” campaign instead drew immediate fury; social-media users demanded the club stop “shoving MAGA Barbie in our faces,” reviving long-standing accusations that the 6-foot-1 guard is a staunch supporter of former U.S. president Donald Trump.
The outrage quickly snowballed when fans resurfaced an old Instagram clip in which teammate Natasha Cloud said she and Cunningham were “no longer friends” because Cunningham had voted for Trump in the 2024 election. Screen-recordings of that clip—plus a wave of fresh memes—flooded X (formerly Twitter), cementing “MAGA Barbie” as an online shorthand for the 28-year-old guard’s perceived politics. Suddenly, a promotional video had morphed into a referendum on whether personal beliefs belong on the court.
Cunningham’s on-court résumé has never been in question: she just wrapped up her sixth WNBA season, averaging 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting nearly 38 percent from deep. Yet critics insist the Mercury’s locker room chemistry is fragile; several pointed out that, while stars from the roster were invited to the new “Unrivaled” offseason league, Cunningham was conspicuously left off the list—proof, they argue, that her brand is becoming a distraction.
Fuel was added to the fire when internet sleuths dug up a since-deleted Instagram Story from late October, in which Cunningham shared a Donald Trump Jr. montage mocking Vice-President Kamala Harris. The post, combined with a trail of likes on right-leaning accounts, convinced many fans that the accusations are not mere speculation. As screenshots made the rounds, commenters demanded an apology or at least a clear statement of her political stance.
Natasha Cloud, never shy about social justice issues, publicly vowed to “hold those around me accountable for posting dangerous misinformation.” Inside observers worry that such ideological rifts could undermine Phoenix’s playoff ambitions. Until Cunningham directly addresses the controversy—or the Mercury find a way to insulate team goals from personal politics—the “MAGA Barbie” label seems likely to shadow her every move, both online and on the hardwood.
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