Sophie Cunningham enjoyed a memorable 48 hours in Las Vegas, making headlines in two different sports. One night, the Indiana Fever guard stepped into the spotlight as a ring girl at UFC 329, and less than a day later, she was back on the basketball court helping the Fever secure a dominant win over the Las Vegas Aces. Cunningham’s appearance at UFC 329 surprised many fans, as she was not simply attending the event but was featured as one of the night’s ring girls.
The crossover added another high-profile moment to her growing list of appearances, following her recent television spot on The Late Late Show With James Corden after the World Cup. Following UFC 329, questions quickly emerged about how Cunningham landed the unexpected role. UFC president and CEO Dana White addressed the topic during the post-fight press conference, explaining that the opportunity came together at the last minute and was arranged spontaneously shortly before the event.
Dana White Explains How Sophie Cunningham Became UFC 329 Ring Girl
Sophie Cunningham continues to make headlines beyond the basketball court. After appearing on The Late Late Show With James Corden following the World Cup, the Indiana Fever guard added another memorable moment to her growing profile by stepping into the Octagon as a ring girl at UFC 329. She also shared a viral moment after the event when Max Holloway, fresh off his victory over Conor McGregor, posed with Cunningham while recreating her famous finger-pointing celebration.
Dana White says he hired Sophie Cunningham to be a ring girl just 8 minutes before she entered the ring.
“I love Sophie Cunningham, and we’ve created a relationship. She was here tonight, and when she walked in, she goes, ‘Oh, I wanna walk around that.’ I said, ‘Then you’re… pic.twitter.com/8FWWewhTrt
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) July 12, 2026
Many fans were left wondering how Cunningham ended up with such an unexpected role at one of the UFC’s biggest events. UFC president and CEO Dana White addressed the question during the post-fight press conference, revealing that the opportunity came together only moments before she entered the arena.
“About eight minutes before she did it,” White said laughing. “I love Sophie Cunningham; we’ve created a relationship. And she was here tonight, and when she walked in, she goes ‘Oh, I want to walk around that,’ so I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it.” White had no hesitation in giving Cunningham the opportunity, and her appearance quickly became one of the most talked-about moments outside the fights, with many believing it could inspire similar crossover appearances in future UFC events.
Sophie Cunningham Reveals What it Was Like Being a UFC 329 Ring Girl
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham added an unexpected role to her UFC 329 weekend, stepping inside the Octagon spotlight as a special guest ring card holder during the event. According to footage shared by Fever beat writer Tony East, Cunningham revealed that the opportunity came completely out of nowhere, with just minutes of notice before she walked out with the Round 1 card. She also shared that her friendship with UFC CEO Dana White played a role in the surprise moment, which marked her first-ever live UFC experience.
Sophie Cunningham on the ring girl experience: https://t.co/hF5qsFakZo pic.twitter.com/PE4gDkvSrl
— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 12, 2026
Cunningham explained that she jokingly told White she could help out if the UFC ever needed a ring girl, but she did not expect him to take the suggestion seriously. White later surprised her by asking her to hold the card for the opening round of the main event. Reflecting on the experience, Cunningham described it as “so much fun” and praised the atmosphere inside the arena. When asked if she had any time to prepare, she admitted she had not practiced, saying, “At the end of the day, you hold the card up, and you turn left,” while adding that the regular UFC ring girls helped guide her through the role.
The UFC also acknowledged Cunningham’s appearance on social media, sharing a 14-second clip of her carrying the Round 1 card at UFC 329. The video showed the Indiana Fever star lifting the card, engaging with fans around the arena and enjoying the moment alongside the event production team, further adding to her growing presence across different sports platforms.
What Sophie Cunningham Did After Her UFC 329 Ring Girl Debut
Sophie Cunningham delivered a game-changing performance off the bench as the Indiana Fever wrapped up their four-game road trip in style with a commanding 109-75 victory over the Las Vegas Aces. The guard caught fire from beyond the arc, scoring 20 points while knocking down 6 of her 7 three-point attempts, giving Indiana the offensive boost it needed to overpower the defending champions.
The Fever received contributions across the lineup, with Kelsey Mitchell leading all scorers with 27 points along with three rebounds and three assists. Aliyah Boston added another impressive performance, recording a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. For Las Vegas, A’ja Wilson remained a bright spot despite the loss, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Indiana’s offensive efficiency proved too much for the Aces to handle, as the Fever shot 55.9% from the field and connected on 15 of 31 attempts from three-point range. The dominant win improved Indiana’s record to 14-9 and capped off a successful road trip, with the team’s depth and bench production playing a major role in the statement victory.
