Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham shocked WNBA fans on Sunday by announcing: “I have herpes.”
The 29-year-old Fever guard made the stunning announcement during a podcast on Jan. 18.
After joking about sharing ChapStick at a youth basketball tournament, Sophie told her co-host West Wilson, “Don’t kiss me. I have herpes.”
The video was viewed nearly 4 million times on X/Twitter.
Sophie Cunningham: “I have herpes” ? pic.twitter.com/r3gLtYddFL
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 18, 2026
Sophie has oral herpes, not genital herpes. But the damage to her reputation is done.
Until Sunday, Sophie was a pinup model and the woman of men’s dreams. She was nearly as popular as her superstar teammate Caitlin Clark.
Sophie’s name was the most searched for female athlete on Google.com in 2025.
Her jerseys and other merchandise sold out, and fans lined up to meet her at Indiana Fever events.
Sophie became an overnight sensation when she stepped up to defend Caitlin Clark from WNBA bullies during a game in June 2025.
Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon got in Caitlin’s face and Caitlin shoved her away. Later, Sophie and Jacy got tangled up in the paint and Sophie body slammed her.
A brawl ensued and several players, including Cunningham and Sheldon, were ejected from the game. The Fever went on to win by a score of 88-71, and a star was born.
Sophie’s announcement may have killed her lucrative sponsorships. The best she can hope for now is a sponsorship for cold sore medications.
X user @PauluzRFRM wrote: “she just dropped from a 10 to a 2 at best.”
User @EmenaIo wrote: “I would still risk it not gonna lie. Slap some Vaseline on and it’s go time.”
X user @Killa11211 commented: “I’m glad she’s comfortable with it just don’t go around spreading your forever juice everywhere.”
