Sophie Cunningham is perhaps the most outspoken figure in the WNBA right now, and she talks quite a lot about basketball. But she definitely does not keep her voice to basketball alone, occasionally veering into political conversations and drawing both backlash and support as a result.

The recently concluded United States midterm elections were another political moment Cunningham did not sit out. And as usual, as much as the message she shared drew backlash, it also drew support from the segment of fans who agree with her stance, most notably Fox News contributor Joe Concha.

“You just don’t see these kinds of messages shared by athletes under 30,” Concha said, as shared by the Washington Examiner page on X. “She’s sharing a good message. She obviously has convictions. She’s paying attention to what’s going on. And that’s why she gets so much hate.”

The post Cunningham shared originally came from entrepreneur and podcast host Andy Frisella. She reshared it on her own Instagram story, and its central message is that true societal change comes from individual accountability and self-improvement rather than elections. 

“One of the strangest things about our culture is how much faith we’ve placed in elections to change our lives and how little faith we’ve placed in our own ability to do the same. The strength of a country is ultimately a reflection of the character, discipline and standards of the people who make it up. If we want a better America, it starts with being better Americans. There is no other way. Personal Excellence is the Ultimate Rebellion,” the post read.

Cunningham’s repost has expectedly drawn plenty of criticism. Since she shared it right after the November 2026 midterm results came in, critics accused her of hiding behind a “neutral” message to mask a partisan agenda.

It is, however, safe to say Sophie Cunningham is no stranger to backlash. She arguably took more of it than anyone in the 2026 WNBA season, particularly when she aired her opinion on transgender athletes in women’s sports. In fact, the reaction then was considerably more intense than what she faces now, with players and coaches expressing opposition to her position, both directly and indirectly. She also faced heavy criticism from fans, with some booing her during games and demonstrations taking place around Fever matchups.

But amid all the criticism, Cunningham has also had people willing to stand up for her and publicly express their agreement with her views. During the height of the controversy surrounding transgender athletes, some fans even organized demonstrations in support of the Fever guard. She also appears to have found an ally in Concha, who came to her defense in October after an article in The Athletic suggested that Indiana should move on from Cunningham because she was “too combustible” for the team.

Concha called it the “stupid column of the year” and a piece of “irresponsible” journalism, arguing that Cunningham is critical to the team because she protects Caitlin Clark on the court and is one of the reasons the team sells out arenas. He has now extended that same support to her latest post.

In response to the backlash that Cunningham has been receiving, Concha pointed to what he believes is a double standard in the way athletes are treated when they express their political and social views. According to him, high-profile athletes who use their platforms to promote progressive political viewpoints are often celebrated as activists. 

However, when an athlete like Sophie Cunningham shares a message that emphasizes conservative-leaning principles such as self-reliance, personal responsibility and individualism, the reaction can be considerably different, with criticism and hostility quickly following.

Whether or not one agrees with him or with Sophie Cunningham, the pattern is hard to miss: Cunningham speaks, and the reaction splits along familiar lines. Many would say she’s definitely one of the most polarizing figures in the league.