From a fast-food meme queen to an unexpected courtside crash, the WNBA star delivers the most chaotic double play of the season
Sophie Cunningham of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever has pulled off what might be the most chaotic—and hilarious—viral moment of the season. In one unforgettable night, she scored a surprise endorsement deal with Arby’s and starred in a viral courtside mishap that has social media in a frenzy.
Hot Girls Eat Arby’s: The Shirt Heard ’Round the WNBA
Cunningham turned heads before the Fever’s matchup against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena, showing up in a white T-shirt emblazoned with the now-iconic phrase: “Hot Girls Eat Arby’s.” The moment, timed perfectly for the team’s “Barbie Night” theme, wasn’t just a fashion statement—it was the payoff to a months-long meme arc.
Back in April, Cunningham posted a quirky, now-viral video of herself trying Arby’s for the first time. The clip was oddly charming, turning her into a meme and creating a niche crossover between WNBA fandom and fast food Twitter.
Four months later, the full-circle moment arrived. Arby’s themselves jumped in, posting a picture of Cunningham in the shirt with the caption: “An unapologetic queen.” That tweet sealed it: Sophie Cunningham is now officially an Arby’s ambassador.
Social media immediately exploded with praise, jokes, and a few digs at the fast-food chain:
- “Greatest crossover ever.”
- “Arby’s loves our Sophie!”
- “Imagine being so hungry you eat Arby’s.”
- “Sophie Cunningham just won marketing.”
Despite the usual mix of online sarcasm and fast-food debates, fans and marketing pros alike called it a masterclass in athlete branding—humorous, authentic, and effortlessly cool.
Viral Collision: Cunningham Sits on Cameraman Mid-Game
But that wasn’t all. In the second quarter of the game, Cunningham collided with Chicago’s Rebecca Allen during a play, stumbled, and unintentionally sat on a cameraman’s face near the baseline. The accidental moment was equal parts awkward and cinematic—and instantly viral.
The clip, first posted by basketball parody account NBACentel, skyrocketed to over 2.7 million views within hours. Reactions were as chaotic as the moment itself:
- “4,271 cameraman applications were submitted this afternoon. 4,270 from me.”
- “I’m going to film school now.”
- “Hate seeing people live my dream.”
- “And they say God doesn’t have a favorite.”
While Cunningham’s look of surprise (and mild disgust) at the situation only added to the comedic value, the moment turned into meme gold almost instantly.
The Sophie Effect: Meme, Marketing, and Mayhem
In a single night, Sophie Cunningham became the face of Arby’s, a viral WNBA sensation, and the subject of internet thirst memes—all without even needing to drop 30 points on the court.
With the rise of personality-driven sports branding and players going viral for more than just their stats, Cunningham’s latest exploits show just how powerful—and hilarious—a moment can be when it toes the line between authenticity and absurdity.