On Tuesday, Sophie Cunningham had a night to remember. The Indiana Fever picked up a convincing win over the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx, while the veteran guard also reached a personal milestone. But in the end, it was the 30-year-old’s arm that caught everyone’s attention.

With an 11-point performance, Cunningham surpassed 2,000 career points, and to celebrate the achievement, she was handing out signed mini-balls to the crowd. During the celebration, one of her throws quickly went viral after the Fever took to X and shared a clip of Cunningham launching one of the balls deep into the stands. “Sophie Cunningham LAUNCHED this ball into the second deck 🤯,” the team wrote.

As the clip began making the rounds, Sophie Cunningham joined in on the fun by reposting the clip and adding her own comparison.

“Call me Patrick Mahomes from here on out,” wrote Cunningham, who actually has high school football experience, having subbed as a kicker when Rock Bridge’s regular kicker was injured in 2014.

And while Cunningham may have been joking about her throwing arm, her comparison to the Kansas City Chiefs star immediately caught the attention of WNBA fans, as many were impressed by the distance she managed to get on the throw.

“Damn, that was a THROW!” One fan wrote. While another added, “Girl got a CANNON!!!!”

For the unversed, Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, and is known for the exceptional arm strength that has become one of the defining parts of his game. On the back of his heroics, the Chiefs have gotten a 2-0 start to the 2026 season. So, after Sophie Cunningham’s deep launch into the second deck, it looks like the Fever guard is ready to borrow a little of Mahomes’ reputation.

Born and raised in Columbia, Missouri, Cunningham has been a longtime fan of the Chiefs. Two weeks ago, she even shared a post from the team featuring Mahomes on her Instagram Stories as the Chiefs prepared to open their NFL season against the Denver Broncos. So, taking Mahomes’ name for herself might not have been such a surprising choice after all.

But that comparison did not sit well with some fans.

“Too bad you can’t launch a ball in the basket,” a fan wrote.

Another criticized Cunningham with a Will Smith twist, writing, “Keep my QB’s name out your mouth.”

Sophie Cunningham has become one of the most polarizing athletes in the WNBA this season, and much of that stems from her outspoken comments about protecting young girls in the locker room when it comes to transgender athletes in women’s sports.

So with her growing social-media presence and willingness to speak her mind on issues surrounding the league, even a playful post like her Mahomes comparison can quickly become another point of debate among fans.

As for her performance, Cunningham has been one of Indiana’s key floor spacers off the bench. She is averaging 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists this season while shooting 46.8% from the floor and 42.9% from three.

She did have a brief shooting slump recently, scoring five or fewer points in the four games before Tuesday. But against the Lynx, she made a comeback, going 4-of-7 from the field and knocking down three 3-pointers. So, while some fans were quick to push back on her Mahomes comparison, others simply enjoyed the moment for what it was.

“Haha you’re not just a good player but also funny 😄,” one fan added.

“I am sure he would be flattered!” shared another.

So whether fans were impressed by the throw or simply enjoyed Sophie Cunningham’s sense of humor, the reaction once again showed how quickly even a lighthearted moment can become a talking point around the Fever guard. But with the playoffs right around the corner, the biggest conversations will ultimately come down to what she can do with her shooting and energy when Indiana needs her most.