Sophie Cunningham delivered another viral moment Friday night, but this time the Indiana Fever player drew attention away from the basketball court.
Her joyful performance of a patriotic favorite showed that the recent outrage surrounding her has not spoiled her fun.
Cunningham has become beloved by clear thinking Americans and reviled by the Left for her unapologetic position on protecting girl athletes.
Following another Fever victory, however, she simply looked ready to celebrate with a lively Indianapolis crowd.
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The Indiana Fever defeated the Dallas Wings by a score of 98 to 87. The result marked the Fever's third consecutive win and gave the team an impressive eight victories over its last 10 games.
After the game, Cunningham went out in Indianapolis and visited Clayton’s Country Bar.
The new honky tonk promotes “raising glasses and country spirits,” making it look very much like a natural setting for her latest memorable appearance.
A man wearing a Fever baseball cap and holding a microphone brought Cunningham onto one of the bars.
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He introduced her as his friend and “America's sweetheart,” prompting wild cheers from the people gathered inside the venue.
Then the opening of Toby Keith's patriotic anthem Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue began playing.
Cunningham enthusiastically started singing the words while the crowd joined her, turning the celebration into another widely shared moment.
She appeared entirely comfortable as she sang along with the country crowd.
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The scene also made one thing look particularly clear: Cunningham was having a wonderful time celebrating both the Fever's winning run and the US of A.
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That cheerful display stood in sharp contrast to the response Cunningham has received during the past several weeks.
Her comments about protecting young girls have placed her outside the WNBA's approved ideological boundaries and made her a target for critics.
Cunningham has not appeared willing to let that reaction change her.
Instead, Friday night's celebration showed her smiling, singing and enjoying herself even as the attacks from her detractors have continued around games and online.
Her supposed great offense was saying that young girls should not have to compete against biological males.
Cunningham explained her position to ESPN last month while also responding directly to claims that her view reflected hatred toward transgender people.
“I think we need to protect young girls,” Cunningham told ESPN.
“They shouldn't have to go against biological men.”
She also said she had “never once said that” when pushing back against accusations that her stance amounted to hatred of transgender people.
Those remarks have led to Cunningham being greeted by nasty signs during her games.
The hostility has not been limited to signs and shouting, however, because recent action involving Cunningham on the basketball court has also become heated.
Last weekend, Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington came from behind as Cunningham attempted a layup.
Carrington caught Cunningham around the head and neck, leading officials to assess a Flagrant 2 foul and remove Carrington from the game.
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The blatant foul added another dramatic moment to Cunningham's recent run of attention.
Some opponents do not appear to be responding kindly to her mega superstar status, but the controversy has done little to diminish her highly visible confidence.
The Left can continue waving nasty signs and yelling ugly things in Cunningham's direction, yet none of it appears to be producing the desired result.
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She remains unapologetic about her position and looks perfectly content to keep being herself.
Friday night's viral performance offered the latest proof of that attitude.
Cunningham celebrated a third straight Indiana Fever victory by belting out a patriotic classic, embracing the cheering crowd and appearing to have the time of her life.
For those hoping the pressure would silence or discourage her, the scene from Clayton’s Country Bar will not be welcome viewing.
Cunningham looked perfectly happy being Sophie Cunningham, and on this particular night, she was a loudly patriotic Sophie Cunningham.
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