By admin 
While her WNBA peers, including Indiana Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Aaliyah Boston, plus head coach Stephanie White, were chasing greatness in Germany in the gold medal game of the 2026 FIBA World Cup, Sophie Cunningham was rubbing elbows with the greatest of all time in Illinois.
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The Fever guard was at Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, as an “athlete contributor,” and she ended up all over the place, meeting and greeting virtually everybody at Gateway.
“We’re here in Illinois with NASCAR. It’s been the best day of my entire life. I feel these are my people. I belong here. I’m wearing all-black; I got my leather on, boots on. I’m pulling out my Talladega nights, baby,” she said.
. @sophaller‘s RACE DAY FIT! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/z7ChbJlay7
— NASCAR on USA (@NASCARonUSA) September 13, 2026
Meeting the GOAT at Gateway
Being at Gateway was a homecoming of sorts for Cunningham, who played college ball for the University of Missouri, which is just 15-20 miles west of the Illinois border. Feeling at home, Sophie took the opportunity to spend time around NASCAR garages, joined pre-race festivities, and crossed paths with some of the biggest names in the sport, like Indiana-raised legend Jeff Gordon and basketball’s GOAT and 23XI team owner Michael Jordan.
Sophie Cunningham saying what’s up to Michael Jordan and Jeff Gordon before the green flag today pic.twitter.com/vRMscBa4Zr
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) September 13, 2026
Later, she sat down as a guest on the USA Sports pregame show and, without pretending to be a NASCAR expert, which she is not, Sophie shone by being herself and just talking about her amazing experience around the who’s who of the sport.
“You are the salt of the earth people,” Cunningham commented. “Truly, you guys are an amazing group of men. And I got to hang out with Ryan. I got to hang out with Chase, Carson (Hocevar). Austin (Dillon) was absolutely amazing. And so, it’s been really cool to talk to them about racing cars. But also just getting to know them outside of the track. You guys truly are amazing. I’ve had a heck of a day; it’s been a lot of fun.”
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Sophie was an impromptu round girl at UFC 329
Sunday’s NASCAR race wasn’t the first big non-basketball sports event that Cunningham has been a part of. Three months ago, Sophie also attended the massive UFC 329 event at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, which saw the return of UFC megastar Conor McGregor. In that event, the Fever guard made headlines by being UFC president Dana White’s guest Octagon girl for the co-main event.
“I love Sophie Cunningham. We’ve created a relationship, and she was here tonight. And when she walked in, she goes, ‘Oh, I wanna walk around that.’ I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it,’” said White.
Well, Sophie looked like a natural fit around the Octagon that night and even got to recreate her viral pointing meme with main event winner Max Holloway. On Sunday, Cunningham was equally impressive chatting with NASCAR folks, many of whom were glad to see a pro basketball player in their sport.
Meanwhile, Sophie is expected to rejoin the Fever on Monday as the FIBA break ends. Indiana still has four regular-season games left to play before they head to the WNBA playoffs. Hopefully, she and her team can find as much success on the court as Cunningham has found off of it.
Related: “I’m a black belt” – Sophie Cunningham on finding the confidence to stand up for herself
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 12:49 AM.