WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has seen rumors about her relationship status intensify on social media after a photograph surfaced showing her in a bikini with a man on a boat. The image, which circulated online, was taken during Cunningham's 30th birthday celebrations, which she continued during a break in the FIBA World Cup.
Cunningham celebrated her birthday on August 16 and took advantage of time off to continue her festivities with a boat trip on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. While she shared some photos from the outing on her Instagram, the specific image that sparked speculation was not posted by her directly but appeared on social media.
The photograph shows Cunningham embracing a man wearing a black baseball cap. Social media users quickly speculated that the image represented a public acknowledgment of a new relationship. The man in the photo was identified online as Frank Adams, who previously worked as an assistant athletic trainer for Cunningham's former WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, until 2025. Adams is now the head athletic trainer for the Grand Canyon University men's basketball team, and Cunningham was reportedly seen attending some of their games earlier this year.
Cunningham has previously spoken about her dating life. In February, on the 'Like a Farmer' podcast, she stated that she does not go on many dates and suggested she might give off an intimidating vibe. "People don't come up to me. I don't really go on dates," she said on the podcast. "I think I just maybe give off, like, an intimidating vibe. I think that's maybe the problem. Like, I get along with the guys way more than I get along with the girls."
More recently, during a conversation with Colin Cowherd, Cunningham addressed being referred to as the WNBA's "sex symbol." When Cowherd hesitated to use the term, Cunningham encouraged him to say it directly, responding, "Just say it. I don't care." She indicated that she preferred that description to what she anticipated he might say. Cowherd also commented on Cunningham's on-court intensity and style, noting her toughness and willingness to confront opponents, while also acknowledging her appearance. Cunningham responded by pushing back against the notion that female athletes cannot be both conventionally feminine and physically and aggressive competitors, stating, "For some reason, our society, if you play basketball, you can't dress that way, or you can't be girly... No one's ever said it, but it's like, they kind of feel that you can't be both. Screw all that. Yes, you can. You can be girly, and you can go out and kick someone's ass."