Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham experienced a rapid transition from a UFC Octagon girl to a key offensive player for her team, all within a 24-hour span in Las Vegas. Cunningham made an unexpected appearance as a Round 1 Octagon girl at UFC 329 on Saturday night before scoring 20 points off the bench to help the Fever defeat the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 109-75 on Sunday.
Cunningham, who had never attended a live UFC event prior to Saturday, described the experience as spontaneous. She told reporters that UFC CEO Dana White approached her during the event, and she casually offered her services as a ring girl.
"Dana came over to say what’s up and I was like, ‘Hey, if you need a ring girl, let me know,’ and he’s like, ‘Alright, first round for the Paddy fight, that’s you,’" Cunningham recounted. Initially thinking White was joking, she was surprised when he confirmed the offer was serious.
Without any rehearsal, Cunningham navigated the role of carrying the Round 1 card for the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis. She noted that the professional Octagon girls provided guidance, advising her to bring "a little personality, a little sass."
Cunningham's eventful weekend continued Sunday as she contributed significantly to the Indiana Fever's dominant win against the Las Vegas Aces. Coming off the bench, she shot 7-of-9 from the field, including 6-of-7 from beyond the three-point line. Her six three-pointers were more than the entire Aces roster combined.
In a gesture of reciprocal support, White was seen wearing a Sophie Cunningham shirt at the Fever-Aces game on Sunday, highlighting the unique connection forged over the weekend. The victory for the Fever marked a significant performance, overwhelming the reigning champions with a 109-75 score.