Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has firmly cemented her status as one of the top stars in the WNBA.
The 6-foot-1 guard has Caitlin Clark and the Fever to thank for her rise to fame. Cunningham was already a well-known name before she joined the team ahead of the 2025 season. However, there’s no denying that her popularity skyrocketed during her first season in Indiana.
Despite her fame, however, Cunningham still gets starstruck — especially when it comes to big-name celebrities. This was exactly the case for the 29-year-old after a surprise visit from country music star Blake Shelton on Wednesday.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) against the Phoenix Mercury in the first half of a WNBA game.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Shelton, a multi-Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter, announced on Wednesday that his bar-restaurant Ole Red is opening its newest branch in downtown Indianapolis. Ole Red will open in 2027 as part of the new Fieldhouse District establishment located on Meridian Street.
As part of his promotion tour, Shelton dropped by Gainbridge Fieldhouse to pay the Fever a visit during practice. Cunningham was clearly the happiest player on the court after seeing the country icon.
Cunningham, a native of Columbia, Missouri, is a big country music girl. It’s her genre of choice for most of her Instagram stories.
This is why it comes as no surprise that she was left in awe after meeting one of the biggest names in country music.
Cunningham and the Fever are preparing for their next preseason game. They will host the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday.
The Fever are building up for the start of the new WNBA season. Their first game is scheduled on May 9 against the Wings.
Related: Caitlin Clark Leaves No Doubt on Her Opinion of Sophie Cunningham
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.