The day WNBA star Sophie Cunningham turned 30 last month she had business to take care of. The Mizzou grad — a guard for the Indiana Fever — helped her team defeat the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in overtime.
She finally got to mark her three decades of life over Labor Day weekend, celebrating with family and friends at Lake of the Ozarks. She shared photos on Instagram.
A cake for the birthday gal. Instagram/Sophie Cunningham
Her sister, Lindsey Cunningham Hudson, posted a sweet birthday message to her sibling on her actual birthday, Aug. 16, along with family photos.
“30 years of Soph!! you are everything that is happy, strong, faithful & beautiful! welcome to your 30s – we love you so much!!!” Hudson wrote.
The belated celebration in the Ozarks capped a season of viral, headline-making moments for Cunningham, who because of comments she made about transgender women competing in female sports earned the nickname “MAGA Barbie” online.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she told ESPN in a July interview titled “Love Her or Hate Her, Sophie Cunningham Won’t Be Ignored.”
“I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
As for her politics? She told ESPN: “I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”
She also became a meme when she infamously pointed at Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner after an argument during a game in Indianapolis. (The Fever won, 86-77.)
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) points to Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner (24) after an argument broke out Monday, June 22, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 86-77. Grace Hollars/IndyStar USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Hudson posted photos and videos of Cunningham’s birthday celebration, presumably at Osage Beach, on Instagram Stories, sharing video of the birthday gal blowing out candles on a cake.
“Next year we won’t wait to do the b-day cake after an entire day drinking on the boat,” Hudson joked in the caption.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) looks to shoot the ball against the Connecticut Sun during a game on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fever defeated the Sun 111-91. Christine Tannous/IndyStar USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Fever, who have clinched a playoff berth, have four remaining regular-season games.
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The Kansas City Star
Lisa Gutierrez has been a reporter for The Kansas City Star since 2000. She learned journalism at the University of Kansas, her alma mater. She writes about pop culture, local celebrities, trends and life in the metro through its people. Oh, and dogs. You can reach her at lgutierrez@kcstar.com or follow her on Twitter – @LisaGinKC.