Barstool’s big mistake with Sophie Cunningham is immediately aging badly

In the debut episode of Sophie Cunningham’s new podcast, Show Me Something, co-hosted with Summer House star West Wilson and produced by Colin Cowherd’s Volume, Sophie Cunningham gives fans a raw, unfiltered look inside the WNBA. But before launching this week, the show nearly had a different home.

According to Barrett Media, Barstool Sports was originally in talks to host the show, but the deal fell through after Dave Portnoy expressed concerns about Cunningham’s focus and marketing pull. 

"I really thought we would be carrying so much of the weight with marketing and all this s**t. Her focus wasn't going to be the podcast," said Portnoy.

Turns out, he miscalculated. Within just 24 hours of launch, the show had amassed over 180,000 views and over 12,000 subscriptions on YouTube.

Barstool may have underestimated the growing appetite for authentic storytelling from women athletes. A partnership with Cunningham would have brought Barstool closer alignment with the WNBA’s expanding fan base and rising cultural relevance, especially as players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese continue to draw record-breaking attention. 

The timing of the podcast couldn’t be better. The show launched nearly a month after Cunningham’s now-infamous on-court brawl with Connecticut Sun’s Jacy Sheldon, which sent Cunningham’s follower count skyrocketing. 

With millions now watching, Cunningham is stepping into a spotlight that extends far beyond the court. She’s inked brand deals with Ring Security and Arby’s, embraced her identity as the “enforcer,” and emerged as a voice fans want to hear.

Cunningham and Wilson (high school friends from Columbia, Missouri) waste no time diving into hot WNBA topics. Episode 1 touches on:

• Locker room dynamics and how teammates on the Phoenix Mercury tried to “toughen up” rookie Caitlin Clark
• The shift in perspective once Sophie joined Clark on the Indiana Fever, and realizing that the treatment and physicality towards CC had crossed a line
• Sophie’s viral moment vs. the Connecticut Sun and how it shaped her image in the league
• Her blunt critique of inconsistent WNBA officiating

"I’m not saying that your job is easy, but when it is a simple call right in front of your face multiple times, what are you doing?... They’re so inconsistent."

Sophie Cunningham, Show Me Something, Ep

For fans who’ve been frustrated by inconsistent reffing or curious about team chemistry and culture, the podcast provides an unfiltered glimpse into the realities of life in and out of the league.

While some fans are skeptical of yet another WNBA podcast, I have faith that Show Me Something will be different. Cunningham’s digital presence is massive and growing fast, and new endorsements and deals prove that brands are taking notice. Her on-court persona as the “enforcer” may draw criticism, but it’s also given her a distinct identity in the league. And unlike many athletes trying to "go media," Cunningham has the numbers and the narrative. She’s not just following the player-to-podcaster pipeline. She’s leading it.

Barstool’s decision to pass on the podcast may go down as a missed opportunity. In an era where athletes are reclaiming their narratives and disrupting traditional media models, Cunningham’s timing is perfect. Alongside stars like Reese, Bueckers, and Clark, she represents a wave of talent that understands both the game and the algorithm. And with Show Me Something, she’s giving fans something they’ve been asking for: real access to the personalities behind the jersey and the stories behind the stats.