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One tweet. Twelve words. Unlimited chaos.
On Saturday night, the WNBA community was launched into full meltdown mode after a viral post from The Hater Report described a scuffle between Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and Los Angeles Sparks guard Julie Vanloo with the outrageous caption:
“Julie Vanloo choked Sophie Cunningham and pulled her hair and she liked it.”
That was all it took. A physical moment on the court quickly became a social media free-for-all, with fans, trolls, and chaos agents spiraling into thirst, outrage, and comedy in equal measure.
What Actually Happened: A Loose Ball Turns into a Meme
Late in the first quarter of the Fever vs Sparks matchup, Vanloo and Cunningham both dove for a loose ball. In the struggle, Vanloo’s hand briefly landed near Cunningham’s neck, tugged a bit of her hair, and then nothing. No foul. No fight. Just a jump ball.
When the two players stood up, Vanloo smirked. Cunningham laughed. Game on.
Cunningham won the jump ball and was fouled moments later, hitting one of two free throws. Vanloo quickly responded with a long-range three-pointer that gave the Sparks a 21-20 lead.
It was nothing unusual on the court. But online? It was war.
WNBA Twitter Loses Its Damn Mind
As soon as the tweet dropped, fans began spiraling in all directions. Some saw it as hot. Some called it clickbait. Some turned it into personality theory.
- “Sophie is a dawg ❤️”
- “oh sophie definitely a freak freak”
- “Tryna sexualize the WNBA is funny like relax bro lmao”
- “Jesus Christ the face of the WNBA gotta be Cunningham”
- “Freaky ass league 😂”
Some were clearly turned on. Others, not amused.
- “Anything for clicks. Pathethicjoke.”
- “If I showed up to my job that I made $22 an hour at and started choking my coworkers I’d be arrested.”
- “This is WWE not basketball.”
- “She didn’t like that shit lol she just laughed it off. She didn’t want to get suspended this time.”
And of course, the conspiracy crowd showed up too.
- “But she wants us to believe the rumors ain’t true lol”
- “That’s how she got traded to the Fever in the first place.”
- “Every team needs a crashout lol.”
What started as a gritty hustle play turned into a full-blown culture moment. Whether you were joking, thirsting, defending, or dragging, Sophie and Julie were suddenly the it duo of WNBA Twitter.
Sophie Cunningham: The Magnet for Mayhem
Cunningham has built a reputation as one of the WNBA’s most chaotic players. Aggressive, physical, unbothered, and always meme-ready. Since arriving in Indiana this season, she’s already racked up highlights, hot takes, and heated moments.
With Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark still sidelined, missing her 10th consecutive game on Saturday, Cunningham has stepped into the spotlight, whether she asked for it or not. And if Twitter is any indication, she’s now the face of the league’s hot girl chaos era.
Who Is Julie Vanloo?
Vanloo, meanwhile, has had a nomadic journey through the WNBA. The Belgian guard joined the league in 2024 with the Washington Mystics, got scooped up in the Valkyries’ expansion draft, and was just waived by Golden State last week.
The Sparks quickly signed her, and in her first meaningful minutes with LA, she gave fans exactly the kind of moment social media dreams are made of.
She only scored 7 points in the game, but in Twitter currency? She’s priceless.
The Actual Game: Sparks Win in a Nail-Biter
Amid the madness, there was still a basketball game being played.
The Sparks edged out the Fever 89–87 in a thriller at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Aliyah Boston was dominant, posting 23 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double performance. Natasha Howard added 21 points, 9 boards, and 2 blocks.
Cunningham contributed 14 points and 4 rebounds for Indiana, but it wasn’t enough.
With the loss, the Fever dropped to 9-9 on the season, still waiting for Caitlin Clark to return and stabilize the team’s rhythm.
Clickbait, Culture War, or Comedy Gold?
The now-viral tweet has sparked a debate far beyond a single clip. Is it funny? Is it disrespectful? Is it evidence that people are finally paying attention to the WNBA or are they sexualizing it in a way male athletes never endure?
Depending on who you ask, it’s all of the above.
Some are celebrating the moment for finally putting eyes on the game. Others are rolling their eyes at what they see as unnecessary thirst bait and disrespect.
Either way, it’s official. The WNBA is no longer just about basketball. It’s a meme machine, a battleground for culture wars, and a highlight reel of high drama.
And in the center of it all?
Sophie Cunningham. Laughing. Again.