Culture columnist Chuck Klosterman has predicted that Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham will run for high office and become Vice President of the United States by 2050.
Klosterman made the forecast during a recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, roughly two weeks before Cunningham publicly commented on transgender athletes.
“Sophie Cunningham … I'm going to say 2050, is going to be Vice President of the United States,” Klosterman said.
He admitted he knows little about her political affiliations but pointed to her public appeal and on-court presence.
“I don't know what party she'll be in, I don't know anything about her political views.
But she will be the vice presidential candidate, at least the candidate,” he added.
Klosterman elaborated on the traits that led to his prediction, noting her sleeves, her way of triggering in-bound plays, and her likable personality.
“I don't know what it is.
It's something about the fact that she wears those sleeves on the court, something about the way she triggers in-bound plays at the end of games, makes me think she will be someone's ideal vice president.
You know, she has a damn likable personality,” he said.
Cunningham has previously described her political views as centrist.
In an interview with The New York Times, she stated, “All I have to say is I really am right in the middle, and I think a lot of America is like that.”
She emphasized that she does not identify with extremism.
“In our culture today you have to choose and you have to be an extremist, and that's just not me.
So I agree with things on both sides; I disagree with things on both sides,” Cunningham said.
In a separate ESPN interview, she reiterated her balanced stance. “I'm very much in the middle.
I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that's all I've ever said about my political beliefs.
But people love to assume,” she said.
Aside from comments on sports regulations and data centers, Cunningham has rarely addressed political matters publicly.
