For months, the nickname clung to her like an unwanted tattoo: MAGA Barbie. It spread on social media, echoed in broadcasts, and slipped into headlines. To some, it was just a joke, a meme, an easy way to peg Sophie Cunningham — the fiery sharpshooter for the Phoenix Mercury — as a political caricature. But to others, it was more sinister: a label that boxed her into one side of America’s most bitter cultural divide.

How the Nickname Began

Breaking the Silence

Walking the Line

The Cultural Ripple

Fans React

Beyond Basketball

A Turning Point

What’s Next

The Legacy of Refusal