Angel Reese struggles before Game 6 of WNBA Finals, as Sophie Cunningham outplays her on off-court

The Atlanta Dream are preparing for a must-win WNBA Finals showdown against the Golden State Valkyries , but Angel Reese has found herself on the losing side of an unexpected comparison with Sophie Cunningham .

Reese has been instrumental in Atlanta's championship pursuit, averaging 17.0 points and 10.6 rebounds during the postseason after leading the WNBA in rebounding throughout the regular season.

Her performances have strengthened an already impressive profile beyond basketball, where major sponsorship agreements and millions of social media followers have established her among the league's biggest commercial attractions.

However, Cunningham has emerged ahead of the Dream forward in SportsPro's reported ranking of the 50 most marketable athletes of 2026, despite Reese's continued success on and off the court.

The Indiana Fever guard received an overall score of 65.34 out of 100, narrowly exceeding Reese 's 64.28 and securing 28th place in the assessment.

Why Cunningham ranked ahead of Reese

The results reflect a broader measurement of commercial influence rather than an evaluation of basketball ability, with SportsPro examining established brand value, recent momentum and future commercial potential.

Cunningham 's advantage came primarily from her growing visibility since joining Indiana in 2025, where her outspoken personality and close association with Caitlin Clark have significantly expanded her audience.

The veteran guard has built an Instagram following of approximately 4.3 million while securing partnerships with Adidas, Arby's, Marriott Bonvoy and Quest Nutrition.

Her commercial momentum score of 34.85 considerably exceeded Reese 's 18.49, helping explain why Cunningham finished ahead despite trailing in other categories.

Reese , however, recorded stronger results for established brand value, earning 31.52 compared with Cunningham 's 24.76.

The Atlanta star also led in projected commercial growth, scoring 14.27 against Cunningham 's 5.73.

Those figures suggest the overall result was influenced more by Cunningham 's recent rise than by any decline in Reese 's established commercial appeal.

Reese retains advantage in sponsorship potential

Reese has continued expanding her commercial portfolio through partnerships with Reebok, Barbie, Victoria's Secret and Reese's, demonstrating her appeal across fashion, lifestyle and sports markets.

Her Instagram audience of approximately 5.3 million also remains larger than Cunningham 's, providing another indication of the different ways athletes can build their influence.

While Cunningham has benefited from the intense attention surrounding Indiana, Reese 's success has developed alongside her individual basketball achievements and growing presence in mainstream entertainment.

Both players have therefore established valuable commercial identities, even if their respective careers have followed different paths.

WNBA Finals provide Reese with immediate opportunity

Reese 's more pressing concern is now Atlanta's attempt to keep its championship hopes alive against Golden State.

The Dream trail the Valkyries 3-2 in the best-of-seven series following a 64-55 defeat in Game 5 on Monday, leaving them needing consecutive victories to secure the franchise's first championship.

Game 6 takes place Thursday, October 29, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with tipoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET.

Another strong postseason performance would give Reese an opportunity to reinforce her standing as one of the WNBA's leading stars.

Although Cunningham holds a narrow advantage in the latest marketability comparison, Reese still has the chance to finish her season with an achievement that would carry significance far beyond commercial rankings.