Sophie Cunningham made her presence felt at the NASCAR Cup Series race. The Indiana Fever star was in Madison, Illinois, for Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300, and she hardly stayed in the background. But a moment on stage quickly became the highlight of her visit for a very different reason, as her athleticism did not exactly shine during a football kicking attempt.
Sophie Cunningham’s football kick goes hilariously wrong before NASCAR race
Cunningham is known as a basketball player, but she also has experience with football. She stepped in as a kicker in high school after a teammate was injured and took over the role. It is possible she has not practiced those skills since then, and her attempt at the NASCAR event showed some of that rust.
Sophie Cunningham gets a tempting offer from fans who already know that move would be iconic
Sophie wanted to put her football skills on display
Cunningham lined up to kick the football in front of the crowd, taking the challenge seriously. She even took off her shoes and took a run-up to get the right approach before making her attempt.
Sophie Cunningham made her presence felt at the NASCAR Cup Series race
Things quickly went wrong. Instead of sending the football where she intended, Cunningham kicked it directly into a nearby tripod and microphone, sending the equipment crashing off the stage. The chaotic moment instantly looked like a meme, but Cunningham took the mishap with humor.
Cunningham had more than one role at the race
Cunningham was in Madison for the Enjoy Illinois 300 and spent time around the NASCAR garage and pre-race festivities. The WNBA guard also crossed paths with some of the biggest names in the sport and tried her hand at kicking a football into the crowd, although that part did not go according to plan.
The Missouri native was also set to contribute to USA Network’s race broadcast, giving her trip to Gateway a role beyond that of a celebrity guest. Her football kick may not have gone the way she wanted, but it certainly made her presence at the race memorable.