She may be sidelined but Sophie Cunningham isn’t slowing down.

Just weeks after a devastating knee injury ended her rookie season with the Indiana Fever, the fiery WNBA star has once again grabbed headlines this time not for a buzzer-beater, but for a video that fans are calling “the funniest and most Sophie thing ever.”

THE INJURY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Cunningham tore her right MCL during an August 17 game against the Connecticut Sun, collapsing near the sideline in visible pain. The injury — caused when Sun guard Bria Hartley crashed into her — ended what had been a breakout year for the 28-year-old guard.

Carried off the court in tears, Sophie was later ruled out for the rest of the season. The Fever, already struggling with multiple injuries including Caitlin Clark’s absence, were left gutted.

Yet just weeks later, instead of disappearing, Cunningham reappeared — laughing, joking, and absolutely owning her recovery.

“WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER”: THE VIRAL CLIP

In a now-viral Instagram post, Sophie sits on her couch, her injured leg propped up in a brace — but it’s her other leg that steals the show. With perfect balance and comic timing, she uses her left foot to grab a tray of Chips Ahoy! cookies from the table.

Her caption? “Work smarter, not harder 😉”

The internet exploded. Fans flooded the comments with laughing emojis and words of encouragement, calling her “unbreakable,” “pure chaos,” and “the ultimate vibe queen.”

Within hours, the video was reposted thousands of times across Twitter/X and TikTok, earning millions of views.

A FAN FAVORITE, EVEN OFF THE COURT

Even before her injury, Sophie Cunningham was known for her fiery personality and no-filter honesty — a mix that made her one of the WNBA’s most entertaining stars.

Now, her sense of humor and resilience are winning over fans all over again.
“She’s handling rehab like she handles defense — with grit and a grin,” one fan wrote.

Teammates have reportedly been dropping by her home with care packages, joking that she’s “still the loudest one on the team — even from the couch.”

STRONGER THAN EVER

Doctors expect Sophie to make a full recovery ahead of next season, and those close to her say she’s already back to light training.

“Nothing keeps Sophie down,” an Indiana Fever insider said. “She’s already planning her comeback and knowing her, it’s going to be loud.”