Sophie Cunningham, guard for the Indiana Fever, spent a portion of her WNBA World Cup break attending a NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois. Cunningham was home in Missouri while her teammate Caitlin Clark and Team USA competed in the FIBA World Cup in Germany.
During her time off from league play, Cunningham visited the track on September 13, 2026, to watch the Enjoy Illinois 300, the second race of NASCAR's postseason Chase. She was seen interacting with fans, drivers, and notable figures, including Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, and former driver Jeff Gordon.
Cunningham appeared on the USA Network's pre-race show, expressing her admiration for the NASCAR community. "You guys, you are salt of the earth people. Truly. You guys are an amazing group of men," she stated. She highlighted positive interactions with drivers such as Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, and Austin Dillon, appreciating their camaraderie both on and off the track.
This event marks not her first time attending a major NASCAR event. Last year, Cunningham attended the Cup Series Championship race in Phoenix, an experience she described as one of her best weekends in a long time. "I think those are my people," she remarked at the time. "That's where I belong."
Cunningham has a previous connection with rising star Carson Hocevar, as they both served as honorary caddies for Caitlin Clark at the Annika Pro-Am golf event in the past. During that event, Hocevar, Cunningham, and teammate Lexie Hull took turns hitting tee shots and carrying Clark's golf bag.