Despite the White House previously using the viral Sophie Cunningham pointing meme, President Donald Trump delivered a backhanded compliment to the WNBA star.

During a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump talked about Cunningham. He believes that a WNBA team should keep her on the roster, even if it's not for her basketball skills.

"We like Sophie Cunningham."

President Trump compliments the popular Indiana Fever player, calling her a "beautiful young woman" before joking that "any time a politician says a woman is beautiful, that's generally the end of his political career."

Trump suggests Cunningham… pic.twitter.com/sOLioHJsPM

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 13, 2026

“We like Sophie Cunningham,” he said. “I like Sophie. You have a lot of men wanting to go and watch her. She's beautiful. You're not allowed to say that anymore, however. As a politician, please, please let me take it back. Any time a politician says a woman is beautiful, that's generally the end of his political career in the modern-day politic world.

“But Sophie is a beautiful young woman. You probably wouldn't mind her [being] on the team. Not to help you with points, but to help you with attendance,” he added, chuckling.

To his point, Cunningham averaged 7.9 points per game during the 2026 regular season. This was down from her 8.6 points per game average a year earlier.

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Still, he may have a point when it comes to keeping her on the roster. Cunningham is a draw and a polarizing figure. Her stance on transgender athletes caused a stir during the season, and it kept her at the center of the discussion.

Cunningham will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 WNBA season concludes. She re-signed with the Fever during the 2026 offseason to remain with the team. However, it is unknown if she will be brought back again for the 2027 season.

She spent the first six years of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury drafted her in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft out of Missouri. While in college, she was a three-time First-team All-SEC player and was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2016.