​Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever took on an unusual side job this weekend, appearing as a special Octagon girl on the Round 1 card at UFC 329. The Fever player, known for her on-court presence, described the experience as a surprising and exciting detour from her basketball duties. According to a video shared by Fever beat writer Tony East, Cunningham revealed that she learned about the opportunity just five minutes before it happened. She recounted that she and UFC chief executive Dana White had developed a good friendship, and she noted that UFC 329 marked her first in-person UFC event.
When asked how she learned of the night’s opportunity, Cunningham stated that the notice came literally five minutes prior to stepping into the ring girl role. She also shared that White greeted her at the event, adding an element of familiarity to the new experience. Cunningham joked with White about potentially assisting the promotion as a ring girl in the future. While his initial reaction was light, he ultimately indicated that he would reserve the Round 1 duties for the main event. She described his seriousness as surprising yet said the overall experience was “so much fun” and set within a “great environment.”
On whether she had any time to prepare for the role, Cunningham admitted she had not rehearsed or practiced beforehand. Her practical approach was straightforward: “At the end of the day, you hold the card up, and you turn left.” She noted that the event’s regular ring girls guided her through the process, helping her acclimate to the routine. Cunningham emphasized that the ring girl role calls for “a little personality, a little sass,” and she enjoyed bringing those qualities to the moment.
UFC’s official Twitter account acknowledged Cunningham’s participation, posting a 14-second clip of her with the Round 1 card. The video depicted her raising the card in the air, moving through the arena with enthusiasm, and later relaxing in the production area with other members of the crew, sharing smiles and pointing at something of interest.
During the interview, Cunningham also mentioned her Las Vegas surroundings, noting a beach club she visited before the fight. She speculated that other WNBA players were in attendance, interpreting that as evidence of crossover support for the league from athletes in other sports. “I think that’s part of where the WNBA is at—people want us to be involved and are giving us those opportunities,” she said.
Cunningham added that the WNBA schedule is demanding, leaving little spare time. She explained that when there are a couple of days to bond with teammates or participate in enjoyable, non-basketball activities, they are almost certain to seize the chance. “Our schedule is brutal,” she acknowledged. “We really don’t get to do a lot of stuff… so when we do have a couple of days to, you know, team bond or go do stuff that is fun and extracurricular, of course we’re going to say yes to that.”
At the time of the interview, Cunningham was wearing a Fever uniform and later contributed 20 points in their game against the Las Vegas Aces. The feature concluded with the headline that Cunningham “Had Zero Notice For UFC Role: Literally Like Five Minutes Before,” reflecting her spontaneous path into the crossover event. The piece originally appeared on Where Is The Buzz, a site dedicated to breaking news, entertainment, and exclusive interviews, and it highlighted Cunningham’s broader take on balancing a professional basketball career with opportunities that arise beyond the court.