A quiet and unsettling gesture from September 2025 changed the way Sophie Cunningham’s relationship with her own fans forever. On what should have been a normal day for her, a package arrived at Gainbridge Fieldhouse addressed to “Sophie”. Inside was a letter and a Guns N’ Roses T-shirt sprayed with cologne. It was a terrifying reality for the WNBA star to accept, but that was only the beginning.

Over the next few months, the boundaries of the arenas seemed to disappear, and Cunningham was flooded with online messages, some of them threatening. By summer, she was staying home more than usual and having nightmares. So Cunningham took steps to feel safer, reportedly involving the FBI, and made a major security change while traveling across the country, as she revealed on the No Hesitation podcast.

“But I will say, definitely in certain places, people kind of knew who I was and I couldn’t really go anywhere. Now it’s like it doesn’t matter what state, what city. It’s everywhere. And so I’ve definitely hired security. And they’re going to start traveling with me actually next week 24/7, so that’s a little different,” Cunningham revealed.

Recognition had become difficult for Cunningham to manage, something famous athletes around the world would understand. She spent six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, but saw her popularity explode when she joined the Fever in 2025. Fans saw her as a No. 2 to Caitlin Clark, who was widely seen as one of the faces of the league. Cunningham was aggressive and unapologetically herself on the court, while also delivering strong performances. She shot a career-high 46% from the field in 2026 and became a key perimeter threat in the Fever’s high-energy offense.

In July 2026, she also became one of the most polarizing athletes in the country when she said that trans women should not be allowed in WNBA locker rooms. Many supported her for it. But many were also hostile. It’s likely one of the reasons why Cunningham ramped up her security.

In the podcast, she further revealed that people used to recognize her in certain places before, but now it happens in almost every state and city. The growing attention has also changed her everyday routine, with Cunningham saying that it has stopped her from doing some of the normal things that she used to enjoy.

Her relationship with fans took a hit. She still signs autographs and takes pictures with them, but has now set firmer boundaries. For instance, if they see her at a restaurant, they have to wait until she has finished her meal. She said on the podcast that she had to draw this line because saying yes to one person can quickly turn into a “revolving door.”

Even when she visits home, she sometimes feels she has spent more time with strangers than with her own family.

Cunningham’s concerns, however, go way beyond dealing with constant attention from fans. Just a week earlier, Cunningham had made another troubling revelation about her safety on Theo Von’s podcast. She claimed that the FBI is watching around 20 people because of her.

“We do have a lot of stalkers. I know I do,” she said.

The FBI has not confirmed Cunningham’s claim, and a spokesperson declined to comment, as reported by the Daily Mail. Cunningham added that she was not sure she was allowed to share that information. She did not name anyone or explain how the FBI became involved. However, Cunningham did mention that one person she knew was already behind bars.

That person appears to be an individual named Kevin Singh, according to multiple reports. He was reportedly the person who sent that T-shirt to Cunningham over at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in September last year. Marion County prosecutors charged him in June, and he is being held in Marion County. He faces felony charges of stalking and intimidation, along with a misdemeanor harassment charge. Singh has pleaded not guilty, and the charges remain allegations.

According to an affidavit, Cunningham first learned about Singh’s online conduct in February. The situation escalated that month, with his messages becoming more threatening after team security contacted him.

In April, Singh allegedly sent numerous messages to Cunningham on X, including explicit ones. One message read, “You’re literally down the street from me!” The team sent him a cease-and-desist letter on April 30, but he allegedly did not stop. He was later banned from the arena.

Singh is also on probation in Hendricks County after pleading guilty in July 2025 to two felony counts of invasion of privacy. The case also brings back memories of what Cunningham’s teammate Caitlin Clark went through. Clark was stalked by a Texas man who was sentenced last year to two and a half years in prison.

For Cunningham, the problem is no longer limited to being recognized wherever she goes or having to turn down fans while spending time with family. Her experiences have raised much more serious safety concerns.  With private security now set to accompany her around the clock, the Fever guard is taking steps to protect herself while trying to maintain some normalcy in her life.