“I Would Punch Them in the Nose”: Sophie Cunningham Shares Her Biggest Proposal Turnoff
Key Points
- Sophie Cunningham said she would “punch” anyone who proposed to her at a sporting event.
- The Indiana Fever guard prefers private, personal proposals and dislikes public pressure.
- Cunningham continues rehabbing her MCL injury and preparing for free agency.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham is known for playing with fire on the court, but her strongest move this week came off it.
On her “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham shared the one thing she never wants in her future: a surprise proposal during a game.
“If anyone were to ever propose to me at any sporting event, I would punch them in the nose, and I would leave,” Cunningham said.
The comment came after she and her cohost discussed a viral photo of an Ole Miss couple who got engaged on the football field. Cunningham made it clear that she would react very differently, adding, “There’s no way in hell.”
Cunningham doubled down, noting that anyone who truly knows her would never try such a gesture.
Sophie Cunningham Calls Stadium Proposals “Hard No”
The Fever guard explained that she has never experienced a public proposal herself, but she already knows it is her worst-case scenario. She did not give a detailed reason, but she hinted that giant crowds and big screens make the moment uncomfortable. For her, a proposal should be private and personal, not something done in front of thousands of cheering fans.
While her comments grabbed headlines, Cunningham is also dealing with a busy offseason. Her first season with the Fever ended early after she tore her right MCL on Aug. 17 during a game against the Connecticut Sun.
Before the injury, she averaged career highs in shooting numbers and became a regular starter.
On her podcast, she also shared that her rehab is going well. “I’m running,” she said. “I’m just trying to get stronger… I’m ahead of schedule.”
Cunningham expects to sprint fully by Thanksgiving and hopes to be cleared for non-contact on-court workouts by the start of the new year.
Even with her injury, Cunningham has been active in other ways. She launched “Placed by Sophie,” an online shop showing her favorite clothes, gear and items from her partnerships with Adidas and Arby’s. The site is designed like a locker room and includes her Fever jersey, cowboy boots, and other personal picks.
Cunningham also made news during Caitlin Clark’s LPGA pro-am event, where she and teammate Lexie Hull served as caddies. Cunningham accidentally hit a fan with an errant tee shot, then rushed over to check on him, sign a jersey, and make sure he was okay. The playful moment even led to older fans jokingly pretending to get hit so they could meet her.
Cunningham will enter the next WNBA season as a free agent, and Indiana faces a long list of major roster decisions. With only a few players signed for 2026, the team’s future remains wide open.
But one thing is absolutely certain: if Cunningham does get engaged someday, it will not happen on a court, a field or anywhere near a scoreboard.
