Sophie Cunningham Takes the Crown Over Caitlin Clark in Unexpected Popularity Twist as Major List Revealed

Sophie Cunningham has overtaken Caitlin Clark as the most popular female athlete in the United States based on Google's trends list for 2025. Cunningham was the only female athlete in the Top 10, which was topped by Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Google released its year-end trends list, including for sports around the world and per country. In the U.S., Sanders came in at No. 1 after his historic drop in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was followed by undefeated boxer Terence Crawford and NBA rookie Cooper Flagg.

Cunningham came in seventh on the list, the highest-ranking female athlete and second-highest in basketball.

Here's the complete Top 10 most popular searches in the U.S. for 2025.

1. Shedeur Sanders - NFL
2. Terence Crawford - Boxing
3. Cooper Flagg - NBA
4. Cam Skattebo - NFL
5. Micah Parsons - NFL
6. Jaxson Dart - NFL
7. Sophie Cunningham - WNBA
8. Shiloh Sanders - NFL
9. Jalen Carter - NFL
10. Justin Rose - Golf

Sophie Cunningham's popularity grew after the Indiana Fever acquired her from the Phoenix Mercury last offseason. Cunningham exploded on social media after she became the enforcer for Caitlin Clark during an early-season fight with the Connecticut Sun.

The virality of her actions led to a lot of business opportunities for Cunningham, which include her own podcast and sponsorship deals. She's set to become a free agent this offseason, though things are up in the air because of the ongoing CBA negotiations.

Clark was still popular, but her injury limited her to just 13 games this season. She wasn't exposed on television for too long, but that could change if she's fully healthy for her third year in the WNBA.

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Caitlin Clark was in the Top 10 for 2024

There was no denying that Caitlin Clark was one of the most popular athletes in the United States last year. Clark played her final season for the Iowa Hawkeyes, losing to South Carolina in the NCAA championship. She was then drafted No. 1 by the Indiana Fever.

While Clark was popular among fans, she wasn't particularly welcomed warmly by many players around the league. The WNBA and Team USA failed to promote her and capitalize on her popularity. Some of their actions even alienated Clark's hardcore fanbase.

Here's the complete list of the Top 10 most popular searches in the U.S. for 2024.

1. Mike Tyson - Boxing
2. Imane Khalif - Olympic Boxing
3. Simone Biles - Gymnastics
4. Scottie Scheffler - Golf
5. Jake Paul - Celebrity Boxing
6. Anthony Edwards - NBA
7. Caitlin Clark - WNBA
8. Harrison Butker - NFL
9. Jordan Chiles - Gymnastics
10. Brandon Aiyuk - NFL

It will be interesting to see if a WNBA player makes the list again next year.