Sophie Cunningham found her way into the UFC octagon this summer, but will not find herself on the court for one All-Star contest. The Indiana Fever guard was omitted from the 3-point contest during the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend despite a surge in popularity. It appears that popularity isn’t enough to sway the decision process.
As such, Cunningham will be forced to watch from the outside. The Athletic’s James Boyd broke the news in a post on X on Tuesday. Boyd showed his surprise by including one notable statistic about the star’s three-point percentage in the text-only post.
“Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was *not* selected to participate in Friday’s 3-point contest during #WNBA All-Star weekend,” he posted. “Cunningham is shooting a career-high 43.7% on 3s this season, which ranks sixth in the league.”
Fans reacted in droves to the snub. Many were left frustrated with the WNBA.
Other fans suggested reasons why she missed the cut.
Bridget Carleton, Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiederman, Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, and Janelle Salaün will take part in the contest, per WNBA media.
Cunningham is in the midst of the most accurate shooting season of her career with a 48.4% field goal percentage and a 43.7% field goal percentage. While she is playing at her best, she has started a career-low three games thus far in 2026. However, while unable to find a starting spot, she has been active with action in 25 games this season.
Sophie Cunningham’s Snub Arrives Amid Controversial Comments
While Sophie Cunningham’s finger-pointing gesture has gone viral, not all public appearances by the Indiana Fever star have been well received. The shooter took sides on the topic of trans women and trans men in sports, siding against allowing “biological men” to play in women’s sports.
In comments made to ESPN in a post on Tuesday, Cunningham said she wanted “to protect young girls” from those who have transitioned.
“I think that I am here to extend love,” she said. “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. … I’m very much in the (political) middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”
Cunningham’s first game since the comments will take place on Wednesday, which will give a hint of the real-world impact of how the statement was taken.
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