Sophie Cunningham has never been shy about making noise away from the court. In recent years, she has built a strong voice off it, drawing significant attention from the community along the way. But her latest encounter with a fan was not the kind of attention she was looking for.

Speaking on her Show Me Something podcast, which she co-hosts with West Wilson, Cunningham opened up about an incident that took place while she was driving back from Nashville.

“I had someone drive like half a mile to like follow me to my car to take a photo with me? And I was like what?” Cunningham said. “Like how it’s like just so random, and like we always talk about how someone, is like famous or in the public eye, and they’re doing something, I would never bother them. Like, I would never go to the lengths that some of these people go to just to get a photo.”

Being one of the most recognizable player in the league, it’s 0nly natural that Cunningham has built a substantial fan following. She has always been accessible, rallying with fans on the sidelines before games and stopping to sign autographs. But that admiration can cross a line. This was one of those moments that would leave anyone unsettled and the experience was no different for Cunningham.

And for the Fever star, this was not even her first brush with that reality. Speaking on her podcast a few days ago, the Fever guard revealed that some impostors are trying to get money online in her name, raising concerns about her social presence.

“I had an old friend from Missouri,” Cunningham said. “He’s like a doctor now. His 80-year-old client tried to wire me $30,000, thinking they were talking to me. And I’m like, ‘This is not me.’”

Incidents involving other notable players in the league have also taken a serious turn. Veteran Britteny Griner found herself amid one such encounter back in 2023 at the Fort Worth International Airport. Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were verbally harassed at the airport by a YouTube personality, Alex Stein.

Notably, several of Sophie Cunningham’s teammates have also found themselves in similar situations in the past.

Sophie Cunningham’s Teammate, Caitlin Clark Has Not Been Spared From Such Situations Either

Few players in the WNBA carry the profile that Caitlin Clark does. She fills arenas, drives viewership numbers, and has become one of the most talked about athletes in American sports. But none of that has shielded her from uncomfortable interactions with fans.

During her rookie season, in a playoff game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Clark flagged down an official in the first quarter to report a fan who was heckling her. Security stepped in and escorted the individual out. It was a reminder that this issue does not stay outside the building.

In a recent interview with GQ Sports last month, Sophie Cunningham addressed the full spectrum. “You’re asking the right person,” Cunningham said. “I get a lot of like, old creepy men, you know? So, that would be like the extreme, not-so-good experience. But the great experiences are the little boys and girls who are just like so excited and new to the WNBA and just want to be like us.”

The WNBA has taken steps to address the problem. The league maintains firm fan conduct policies and expects supporters to behave in professional and courteous manner. It has also introduced league-wide charter travel, which offers players greater degree of security and limits their exposure to such encounters on the road.