India, Aug. 17 -- Sophie Cunningham has become one of the WNBA's most talked-about and polarizing players, even surpassing teammate Caitlin Clark in the amount of attention surrounding her. The Indiana Fever guard has found herself at the center of growing online criticism, despite playing a supporting role for one of the league's top teams. Her increased profile comes as the WNBA continues to attract more viewers and attention in recent years, with Clark also playing a major role in that growth.

The controversy intensified on Cunningham's 30th birthday, when supporters reportedly faced restrictions while trying to discuss or wish her well on Reddit. Her name was reportedly banned from the WNBA subreddit, adding another unusual chapter t...