Sophie Cunningham was able to refocus media attention during the 2025 WNBA preseason in a way that was both endearing and calculated. She shared a winking TikTok with the caption, “Lol but like I wouldn’t mind a man to take care of me too, ya know?” following an impressive performance in a warm-up game against the Washington Mystics, in which she scored 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds. The web didn’t think twice. Fans started speculating once more after screenshots appeared on social media: who is Sophie Cunningham’s boyfriend?
By all accounts, she doesn’t have any. Only a few days later, Sophie reaffirmed this on Instagram Stories, writing, “lol we still want and need the boy too.” The candor was eerily reminiscent of the openness that fans find admirable in athletes such as Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka—confessions that are purposefully unscripted, genuine, and human.
When tabloids resurfaced claims that Sophie may have once been romantically involved with Josh Bartelstein, the married CEO of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, that humorous post took on a different tone. According to the Independent and New York Post, Sophie was named in a lawsuit alleging an affair, which, if confirmed, would make it difficult to distinguish between personal transgressions and professional boundaries in professional sports. Bartelstein and Sophie have not publicly responded to the allegations, so the implications are up for debate in the court of public opinion.
That rumor has faded into the background in recent days, but the curiosity it aroused is still very much alive. Sophie has managed the narrative’s tone by using social awareness and calculated silence to draw attention away from the rumors and toward her game. This season, she and rising star Caitlin Clark created a whole new buzz when they joined the Indiana Fever. With both women controlling the court with energy that is equal parts captivating and competitive, their synergy has significantly increased the team’s tempo.
The way Sophie has transformed the boyfriend question into a discussion about expectations is what many fans find to be the true intrigue. Sophie’s strategy has been especially creative in a time when female athletes are taking back control of their image. She doesn’t pretend that partnership is a top priority, but she also doesn’t deny wanting one. She has provided something that feels remarkably effective at dispelling outdated stereotypes by accepting her single status and discussing it informally.
Sophie has developed a persona that appeals to people outside of the basketball community by using TikTok and Instagram to provide glimpses into her personal life. But this transparency is not without criticism. Some TikTok users went viral by posting purported details about Sophie’s previous relationships, including a video that said her ex-boyfriend had trouble with three of her odd habits. The claims were unsubstantiated, and Sophie did not respond to them, but the video went viral quickly, as stories about women who are viewed as “too ambitious to date” often do.
Across sports, this perception—which is typical of women who succeed in high-stakes careers—has been subtly reinforced. At one point, Serena Williams talked about how hard it was to find a partner who didn’t feel intimidated by her success. In a similar vein, Sophie’s life as a WNBA player involves a demanding travel schedule, demanding physical requirements, and ongoing media attention. Her joke about wanting a man to take care of her felt both relatable and intentionally disarming in this situation.
Her humor is a powerful statement in the context of contemporary sports culture. It lends a human face to a player who is frequently only viewed through the prism of statistics and on-court performance. Additionally, those kinds of personal insights build emotional bonds between players and fans in a league that continues to struggle for widespread recognition. Because of her candor, Sophie is more approachable and possibly more marketable.
By means of strategic collaborations with social media platforms and steady on-court performance, she has established a niche that feels remarkably adaptable. Sophie is changing the definition of presence for female athletes, whether she’s lighting up the scoreboard or making jokes about dating.
This dynamic has been further complicated by her friendship with Caitlin Clark. The two have been seen laughing together in the locker room and joking during warm-ups. Their professional respect is what really stands out, despite some fans’ lighthearted conjectures about the nature of their relationship. Their partnership is very effective for a team looking to change its image, both in terms of sports and business.
Sophie has protected her private life from needless interference while fostering just enough interest to keep people talking by remaining open and honest on her own terms. Her tone hasn’t changed in response to accusations like the Bartelstein rumor; on the contrary, they’ve encouraged her to embrace humor, self-assurance, and unrepentant femininity.
