​During her off day in Las Vegas, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham surprised fans by stepping into a rare role as a ring girl at UFC 329, held at T-Mobile Arena. Cunningham carried the octagon-shaped card for the Paddy Pimblett versus Benoit Saint-Denis showdown, a bout that Pimblett dominated by submission in a swift 52 seconds. The appearance marked a notable crossover moment for Cunningham, who later joined the stage after Max Holloway’s fight to participate in a lighthearted reenactment of her widely circulated pointing gesture, a move that has become a global internet sensation.
Cunningham shares a friendly rapport with UFC President and CEO Dana White. White revealed after UFC 329 that the concept for Cunningham’s ring-girl appearance came together only minutes before the event. “About eight minutes before she did it,” White said. “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 (stage).’ I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it.’” The moment captured Cunningham’s outgoing personality and connection to combat sports, while underscoring the spontaneous, collaborative nature of the UFC’s event atmosphere.
The ring-girl moment occurred on the heels of Cunningham’s own schedule as a professional basketball player. She recounted the experience during the Fever’s Sunday shootaround as her team prepared for a crucial matchup against the Las Vegas Aces. “I found out literally like five minutes before,” Cunningham explained. She noted that her relationship with White has grown into a genuine friendship and described UFC as an amazing experience. “I went to my first live fight last night, which was so cool. The main fight was a little eh, but the whole experience overall was wonderful. Dana came over to say what’s up, and I was like, ‘Hey, if you need a ring girl, let me know.’ And he’s like, ‘Alright, first round for the Paddy fight, that’s you.’ It was so much fun, though. It was just a great environment.”
The event isn’t the only exciting development for Cunningham in the near future. Reports this week indicated that she is poised to release her own Adidas PE shoes later this month, with a launch date set for July 24. The synergy between Cunningham’s on-court talents and her foray into the sports-and-entertainment crossover scene continues to build a distinct personal brand that resonates beyond the WNBA.
As for the Fever, Cunningham and the team are set to face the Aces in a high-stakes matchup at 8 p.m. CT on Sunday night from Michelob ULTRA Arena. The game will air on NBC and be available for streaming on Peacock, giving fans multiple ways to catch Cunningham’s evolving career that spans hoops and high-profile entertainment appearances. For ongoing updates and coverage, follow Hawkeyes Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like the page on Facebook, and keep an eye on Scout’s coverage with @SpringgateNews. This cross-sport moment has already become a talking point for fans and analysts alike, illustrating how athletes can successfully bridge professional leagues and mainstream entertainment in a way that broadens their visibility and appeal.