Florida governor elect Byron Donalds meets Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham

Florida Governor-elect Byron Donalds posed for pictures with Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham at a NASCAR event, Fox News reported. During the meeting, Donalds told the professional basketball player to keep speaking up regarding transgender athletes participating in sports. The meeting followed the 2026 midterm elections, in which Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly to secure the Florida governor seat. [1][6]

Donalds succeeded Ron DeSantis to keep the governor office in Tallahassee under Republican control, Fox News reported. The Washington Post and the BBC both reported that Donalds is the first Black governor elected in Florida. Donalds stated that becoming the first Black governor of the state is a matter of pride, according to the Washington Post. [1][2][3]

Donalds has served as the United States representative for the 19th congressional district of Florida since 2021, according to Wikipedia. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020. As FTMQ News reported earlier, his election victory came during a midterm cycle where Republicans retained key Florida offices despite Democratic gains across the nation. [3][8]

Cunningham is a professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the Women's National Basketball Association, according to Wikipedia. She previously played college basketball for the Missouri Tigers before entering the professional league. Cunningham joined the Indiana Fever in February 2025 after six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. [4][7]