In the storyline of the games, Sonya becomes involved with the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament through the pursuit of her archenemy, the criminal leader Kano.

The series' rebooted timeline also depicts her as the love interest to martial arts actor Johnny Cage and the mother of their daughter Cassie.

Hoskins, whose martial arts training consisted of "some Tang Soo Do and a past of WWF wrestling and gymnastics", had previously appeared in the Midway releases NBA Jam and Revolution X.

In the original Mortal Kombat (1992), she is the lieutenant of a Special Forces unit that is pursuing Kano, the leader of the Black Dragon crime syndicate.

Sonya is not playable in Mortal Kombat II (1993), but is included in the storyline when her superior, Major Jax Briggs, searches for her in the otherworldly dimension of Outworld, where the next tournament is held.

[31] In Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004), she and the other Earth heroes are killed by the Dragon King Onaga and resurrected to serve as his slaves until their souls are freed by the spirit of Liu Kang and Shao Kahn's former enforcer Ermac.

[34] After Jax's arms are obliterated by Ermac during the events of the second tournament in Outworld, Sonya transports him back to Earth for medical attention.

[37] Cassie grows up to join her mother's Special Forces unit, and is the catalyst in defeating Shinnok and saving Earth, after which she, Sonya, and Johnny reconcile.

[44] Bridgette Wilson was cast as Sonya after the filmmakers' original choice, Cameron Diaz, injured her wrist during martial arts training and dropped out.

[45][46] As she was a late addition to the production, her fight scene with Kano was the final one shot in order to give her adequate time to train.

Sonya is devastated by the death of Johnny Cage, who is killed by evil Outworld emperor Shao Kahn at the film's start after he saves her life.

[48] She is depicted as a veteran who has spent years researching the Mortal Kombat tournament while having captured the mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson).

McNamee, who submitted multiple audition tapes in campaigning for the role, described the character as "the voice of reason" with a degree of "playfulness and lightness".

[50] She is a supporting character in the animated Mortal Kombat Legends films Scorpion's Revenge (2020) and Battle of the Realms (2021), voiced by Jennifer Carpenter.

[58][59] In Jeff Rovin's non-canon novel Mortal Kombat (1995), set prior to the tournament of the original game, Sonya works undercover as a Black Dragon operative in her attempt to apprehend Kano.

[63] Ronda Rousey, who voiced Sonya in Mortal Kombat 11, wore a themed ring outfit for a match against Ruby Riot at the 2019 WWE Elimination Chamber as a promotion for the game.

"[72] MSN included her among the 20 "hottest women in video game history", stating, "independent, tough, and willing to put herself on the line for her friends, Sonya Blade is the embodiment of the modern woman.

[74] Jason Gallagher of Game Rant opined that "with all due respect to Kitana, Jade, and Mileena, [Sonya] is still the most recognizable female character in franchise history today.

[76] Ranking this scene as the best in this film, UGO also commented that "Sonya Blade has always been sort of an also-ran character in the Mortal Kombat franchise, taking second place to the busty ninja sisters Kitana and Mileena.

[78] On the other hand, 1UP.com's Retronauts opined Wilson was miscast and not convincing in the role,[79] and Leonard Pitts cited Sonya being captured and taken hostage in the first film as a prime example in his 1995 article alleging that "sexism still prevails in action movies.

"[82] GamesRadar author Lucas Sullivan commented "Sonya is just as important to the plot of MK9 as her primarily male counterparts, playing the role of a Special Forces agent caught up in a tournament that will determine the fate of Earthrealm itself.

Vice writer Danielle Riendeau described her performance as "terrible," and expressed "Sonya Blade made me excited that I could play as a girl in a fighting game.