Interest in Sophie Cunningham’s ex-boyfriend has grown alongside the WNBA star’s increasingly prominent public profile. Known for her competitive personality and outspoken style, Cunningham has attracted plenty of attention away from basketball as well.
Her dating history, however, is considerably less public than her professional career.
The relationship most widely reported from Cunningham’s past is with Jakob Neidig, whom she dated during her college years. Since then, Cunningham has largely kept her romantic life private, even as online speculation has attempted to connect her with several other people.
Here is what is publicly known about Cunningham’s dating history and what remains unconfirmed.
Who Is Her Ex?
Jakob Neidig is the name most consistently identified as Sophie Cunningham’s former boyfriend.
The two reportedly knew each other during Cunningham’s time at the University of Missouri, where she developed into one of the most successful players in the school’s women’s basketball program.
Neidig was also involved in athletics and has been described in reports as a soccer and basketball player.
Their relationship reportedly began in 2019. Cunningham occasionally shared glimpses of the relationship publicly during that period, but it did not develop into the kind of highly documented celebrity romance that often follows professional athletes.
Reports place their breakup around May 2020.
Neither has made their former relationship a major part of their public identity since the split.
Is Sophie Single?
Cunningham has repeatedly given the impression publicly that she is single, including through conversations about dating on her Show Me Something podcast.
Her comments have often been humorous rather than detailed disclosures about her private relationships.
One recurring theme has been how difficult dating can become alongside the demands of professional basketball.
A WNBA player’s calendar can include training, travel, games, recovery sessions and offseason commitments. Cunningham has suggested that finding time for a serious relationship within that schedule is not particularly easy.
She has also joked openly about what she looks for in a potential partner.
Her Height Rule
Height apparently matters.
Cunningham stands approximately 6-foot-1, and she has discussed wanting a partner who is taller than she is.
Her comments about dating someone shorter have generated social-media discussion, particularly because they offered fans an unusual glimpse into a part of her personality that has little to do with basketball.
They should not, however, be interpreted as evidence that she is secretly dating someone.
Cunningham has generally discussed relationships on her own terms without publicly identifying a current boyfriend.
Frank Adams Rumors
Frank Adams is another name that has appeared in online stories about Cunningham’s romantic life.
Reports have described Adams as an athletic trainer associated with Grand Canyon University. Photos or appearances involving the two have contributed to speculation that they may have dated.
There is an important limitation to those claims: neither Cunningham nor Adams publicly confirmed a romantic relationship.
Being photographed together or attending the same events does not establish that two people are dating.
For that reason, Adams is better described as someone Cunningham has been linked to through online speculation rather than a confirmed ex-boyfriend.
Josh Bartelstein Claims
Josh Bartelstein, an executive associated with the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury organizations, has also been mentioned in stories involving Cunningham.
That situation is substantially different from a conventional celebrity dating rumor.
Bartelstein’s name became linked with Cunningham through allegations contained in workplace-related legal reporting rather than through a relationship announcement from either person.
Cunningham has not publicly confirmed Bartelstein as a boyfriend.
Claims arising from a lawsuit or third-party allegation should therefore not automatically be converted into established details about someone’s dating history.
There is currently no sound basis for describing him as Cunningham’s confirmed former boyfriend.
Cade Cunningham Confusion
Another name sometimes connected with Sophie Cunningham is NBA player Cade Cunningham.
This one is much simpler.
There is no established romantic relationship between Sophie and Cade Cunningham.
Their shared surname has fueled jokes, memes and occasional confusion online, but sharing the name Cunningham does not make them spouses or establish a family connection.
Social-media humor has nevertheless helped keep the question circulating among casual sports fans.
Why Fans Are Curious
Interest in Cunningham’s personal life has increased as her profile has expanded beyond the basketball court.
After starring at Missouri, she entered the WNBA as the 13th overall selection in the 2019 draft and spent the early part of her professional career with the Phoenix Mercury.
Her move to the Indiana Fever brought her into another highly watched environment.
Cunningham’s willingness to speak candidly, combined with her fashion appearances, podcast conversations and growing social-media following, has made her a recognizable personality rather than simply a player seen during games.
Greater visibility inevitably produces more searches about relationships.
That does not mean every online claim deserves equal weight.
Keeping Life Private
Cunningham occupies an interesting middle ground when discussing her personal life.
She is comfortable joking about dating and sharing general preferences, but she has not turned her romantic relationships into a central feature of her public brand.
That distinction matters when examining claims about potential partners.
An athlete can discuss being single, dating difficulties or what she wants in a partner without providing the public with a complete relationship history.
Unless Cunningham or another directly involved person confirms a relationship, online connections should remain labeled as speculation.
Dating History Today
For readers searching for Sophie Cunningham’s ex-boyfriend, Jakob Neidig remains the clearest publicly reported answer.
Their relationship dates back to Cunningham’s college-era transition into professional basketball, with reports indicating they dated beginning in 2019 before separating around 2020.
Other names subsequently associated with Cunningham do not carry the same level of public confirmation.
Frank Adams has been the subject of dating speculation, while Josh Bartelstein’s name emerged in a very different context involving third-party allegations. Cade Cunningham’s inclusion in relationship searches largely comes from internet jokes surrounding their shared surname.
As of 2026, Sophie Cunningham has not publicly announced a husband, fiancé or current boyfriend.
Her public comments instead paint the picture of an athlete whose demanding professional schedule makes dating complicated and who is comfortable keeping the most personal details of her relationships away from public scrutiny.
Until Cunningham chooses to announce otherwise, separating that limited confirmed history from internet rumor remains the most accurate way to describe her love life.
