Sophie Cunningham

Sophie Cunningham is a WNBA standout known for her sharp-shooting, tenacious defense, and fierce loyalty, but her story extends far beyond the basketball court. From becoming a collegiate all-time scorer to her impactful professional career and outspoken off-court stances, she embodies a competitive spirit that sparks conversation. Dive into the journey of an athlete whose influence is felt in every arena she enters. Sophie Cunningham became an all-time leading scorer in college before her professional career, where she developed into a key WNBA three-point specialist and enforcer. Her tenure with the Indiana Fever has been marked by pivotal team moments, including protecting teammates, a significant knee injury, and a notable re-signing. Beyond the court, Cunningham openly shares her Christian faith, has taken a public stance on transgender women in sports, and also works as a sports analyst.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Sophie Cunningham became an all-time leading scorer in college before her professional career, where she developed into a key WNBA three-point specialist and enforcer.
Her tenure with the Indiana Fever has been marked by pivotal team moments, including protecting teammates, a significant knee injury, and a notable re-signing.
Beyond the court, Cunningham openly shares her Christian faith, has taken a public stance on transgender women in sports, and also works as a sports analyst.

The Missouri Roots of a Basketball Star

Sophie Elizabeth Cunningham's remarkable journey began in Columbia, Missouri, where she was born on August 16, 1996. Athletics ran deep in her family—both her parents, Jim and Paula, were esteemed student-athletes at the University of Missouri, setting an early precedent for her own future.

Multi-Sport Marvel in High School

At Rock Bridge High School, Sophie was a true multi-sport phenom. She excelled in both basketball and volleyball, leading her basketball team to an incredible four consecutive state titles. Proving her versatility further, she even stepped onto the football field as a kicker, successfully converting two of four field-goal attempts after the team's regular kicker suffered an injury.

Dominating the College Hardwood

Cunningham's talents truly blossomed at the University of Missouri, where she became a cornerstone for the Tigers women's basketball team. She started an astounding 129 career games over four seasons, becoming the program's all-time leading scorer.

Her stellar collegiate performance earned her significant accolades, including being a three-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection. In her senior year, she was also recognized as a third-team All-American, cementing her status as one of college basketball's elite.

From Mizzou to the WNBA

This standout college career naturally led Sophie to the pinnacle of women's basketball: the WNBA Draft. In 2019, the Phoenix Mercury selected her as the 13th overall pick, making her the first pick in the second round.

This was a historic moment—not only was she the eighth University of Missouri alumna drafted into the WNBA, but she was also the highest selection for any former Tiger. Her rookie year saw her make an immediate impact, appearing in 32 games and demonstrating her defensive prowess.

Rising Star with the Phoenix Mercury (2019–2024)

Sophie continued to develop during her tenure with the Mercury, evolving into one of the league's most accurate three-point specialists. The 2021 season was particularly noteworthy, as she played a crucial role in the Mercury's resurgence, helping them reach the WNBA Finals.

In 2022, Cunningham started a career-high 20 games, dramatically improving her statistics across the board. She posted new career-highs in offensive rebounds with 19, total points with 352, and defensive rebounds with 104, showcasing her growing influence on the court.

Her playing time continued to increase in 2023, as she started all 31 games she appeared in. While the team struggled, missing the playoffs for the first time in her career, Sophie remained a consistent force. The Mercury rebounded in 2024, and Cunningham played a career-high 40 games, setting new personal bests in defensive rebounds and steals.

A New Chapter: Indiana Fever (2025–Present)

On January 31, 2025, Sophie embarked on a new chapter, traded to the Indiana Fever in a significant four-team deal. It didn't take long for her to make an indelible mark, quickly earning a reputation across the league as the Fever's 'enforcer'.

This 'enforcer' status was dramatically cemented during a game against the Connecticut Sun. When Jacy Sheldon poked her teammate Caitlin Clark in the eye, Sophie didn't hesitate—she retaliated by grabbing Sheldon and pulling her to the ground. This viral incident, which led to her ejection, solidified her as a fiercely loyal protector on the court.

However, the intensity of the game can also bring difficult moments. Later that same year, in an August 17 match-up against the Connecticut Sun, Sophie suffered a season-ending right knee injury. An opponent, Bria Hartley, stumbled into her leg, resulting in a torn MCL—a setback she openly shared with fans on her podcast, 'Show Me Something'. She later re-signed with the Fever on April 12, 2026.

The following season brought another memorable moment. In a June 22, 2026, game against her former team, the Phoenix Mercury, Sophie passionately questioned referees after a technical foul was called on Caitlin Clark, but not on former teammate DeWanna Bonner. Her persistent pointing at Bonner for over 20 seconds, even after being ushered back to the bench, later became an internet meme.

Beyond the Court: Faith, Views, and Appearances

Sophie Cunningham is openly Christian, stating that her faith 'keeps me grounded' and describing her adult baptism as 'one of the better things I've done in my life.' She frequently shares faith-based content on her social media, reflecting the deep personal role it plays. She has also described her political views as 'very much in the middle.'

In July 2026, Cunningham became a prominent voice in the debate surrounding transgender women in women's sports. She spoke out against their participation, citing a desire to 'protect young girls' in locker rooms and sports. Her statements garnered significant attention, receiving praise from conservative figures like US Vice President JD Vance and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, while also sparking demonstrations both for and against her views.

Media and Unexpected Ventures

Beyond her playing career, Sophie has demonstrated her insightful understanding of the game as a respected analyst. Since December 2022, she has been a recurring fixture on 'Suns Live!', providing pre-game, halftime, and post-game commentary for the Phoenix Suns.

In a surprising move, Cunningham even appeared as a ring girl at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, for a co-main event. UFC CEO Dana White humorously revealed he hired her only eight minutes before her appearance, after she casually joked about taking on the role.

Sophie Cunningham: By the Numbers

To truly appreciate Sophie Cunningham's impact, we need to look at the numbers. Her career statistics tell a compelling story of growth and consistent performance in both collegiate and professional play.

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game
TO	Turnovers per game	FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
Bold	Career best	°	League leader

WNBA Regular Season Statistics

Here's a detailed look at Sophie's performance across her WNBA regular seasons, highlighting her consistent development and rising influence on the court.

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2019	Phoenix	32	5	12.2	.354	.304	.882	1.4	0.8	0.3	0.1	0.6	3.1
2020	Phoenix	21	11	18.9	.385	.235	.880	1.0	0.8	0.5	0.1	0.7	5.0
2021	Phoenix	30	4	17.5	.437	.410	.704	2.0	1.1	0.5	0.2	0.5	5.6
2022	Phoenix	28	20	29.5	.449	.400	.875	4.4	1.6	1.0	0.4	1.0	12.6
2023	Phoenix	31	31	29.0	.413	.337	.875	2.8	2.1	0.6	0.4	1.5	11.3
2024	Phoenix	40	21	27.8	.429	.378	.870	3.9	2.0	1.0	0.3	1.0	8.4
2025	Indiana	30	13	25.2	.469	.432	.875	3.5	1.2	1.0	0.1	1.1	8.6
Career	7 years, 2 teams	212	105	23.1	.428	.372	.861	2.8	1.4	0.7	0.2	0.9	7.9

WNBA Playoffs Statistics

Sophie has also made her mark in postseason play, contributing to her team's efforts under high-pressure situations.

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2019	Phoenix	1	0	8.0	1.000	1.000°	.000	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0
2020	Phoenix	2	0	9.5	.500	.333	—	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.5	2.5
2021	Phoenix	8	2	17.5	.484	.565	1.000	2.1	0.8	0.3	0.9	0.8	6.4
2022	Phoenix	2	2	31.0	.455	.375	.333	2.5	2.0	0.5	0.0	2.5	7.5
2024	Phoenix	2	2	31.5	.500	.429	—	4.5	3.5	1.5	0.5	0.5	6.5
2025	Indiana	Did not play (injury)
Career	5 years, 1 team	15	6	19.5	.491	.500	.625	2.2	1.1	0.4	0.5	1.0	5.8

Collegiate Career Statistics

Her time at the University of Missouri was marked by consistent high-level play, as shown by these impressive college statistics.

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2015–16	Missouri	32	32	30.1	.502	.356	.831	5.8	3.0	1.1	0.3	2.4	14.0
2016–17	Missouri	31	31	32.9	.482	.379	.848	5.3	3.4	0.9	0.3	3.4	17.5
2017–18	Missouri	31	31	32.7	.542	.457	.836	4.7	3.0	0.8	0.1	3.0	18.5
2018–19	Missouri	35	35	34.3	.481	.403	.839	5.9	2.8	1.2	0.3	2.9	17.8
Career		129	129	37.5	.501	.403	.839	5.4	3.0	1.0	0.3	2.9	17.0

Article

Sophie Cunningham

Sophie Elizabeth Cunningham (born August 16, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Missouri Tigers.

Cunningham attended Rock Bridge High School in her hometown of Columbia, Missouri, where she was a five-star recruit and led her team to four straight state titles. She played four collegiate seasons with the Missouri Tigers, becoming the program's all-time leading scorer. A three-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, she was named a third-team All-American in her senior season with Missouri.

Selected by the Phoenix Mercury with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, Cunningham played for the team in her first six seasons in the WNBA, developing into one of the league's most accurate three-point specialists. In 2025, she was traded to the Indiana Fever, where she is a key reserve and has drawn national attention as an enforcer for teammate Caitlin Clark.

Early life

Sophie Cunningham

Sophie Elizabeth Cunningham was born in Columbia, Missouri, on August 16, 1996, to Jim and Paula Cunningham. Her parents were both student athletes at the University of Missouri in Columbia, along with other members of her family.

Cunningham played in a youth soccer league while in grade school. Cunningham attended Rock Bridge High School, starring on the girls' basketball and volleyball teams. When the kicker on the football team had an ACL tear, ending his season, Cunningham joined the football team as the kicker as well, going two for four on FG attempts.

College career

Sophie Cunningham

Cunningham played four seasons of college basketball at the University of Missouri for the Tigers. In 129 career starts, she averaged 17.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 3.0 apg for the Tigers.

Professional career

Phoenix Mercury (2019–2024)

Cunningham was selected as the thirteenth (13th) overall pick, the first pick in the second round, of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She was the eighth University of Missouri alumna to be drafted into the WNBA and was the highest selection for a former Tiger. In her rookie year, she appeared in 32 games, mostly off the bench, starting just five; she finished the season with 28 field goals in 79 attempts, went 30-for-34 in free throws, had 45 rebounds, 25 assists, 11 steals and four blocks while scoring 100 points. In the postseason, she scored three points in the Mercury's only game.

The 2020 season saw Cunningham appear in a career-low 21 games, though she started 11. She was productive in her limited playing time, with 35 field goals, 12 three-pointers and 22 field goals. In two playoff games for the Mercury, she recorded two field goals and a three-pointer.

Cunningham came off the bench for the Mercury in their resurgent 2021 season. In 30 games, she averaged 17.5 minutes per game, posting 5.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.5 steals. She shot 43.7% from the field, including 41.0% on 3-pointers, and 70.4% from the free throw line. She played in eight of the team's 11 postseason games, missing three due to a calf strain, as the Mercury made it to the WNBA Finals, including a 21-point performance against the New York Liberty in the second round. In Game 2 of the Finals, she recorded nine points, five rebounds and two assists in the Mercury's 91-86 overtime win against the Chicago Sky to tie the series. Her two three-pointers in the second quarter put Phoenix within three points. In the third game, she scored a three-pointer. Cunningham scored 51 points in the posteason, but the Mercury lost to the Sky 3-games-to-1.

Cunningham with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023

Cunningham started a then-career-high 20 games in 2022 and responded with dramatic improvement. She recorded 120 field goals, 70 three-pointers, and made 42 of her 48 free throw attempts. She posted career-highs in offensive rebounds (19), and points (352), and her 104 defensive rebounds were also a career-high to that point in her career. In two playoff games, she had five field goals, two free throws and five rebounds, scoring 15 total points.

Cunningham's playing time continued to increase in 2023, this time starting all 31 games she played in. She finished the year with 111 field goals, 58 three-pointers, and a career-high 70 free throws. Despite this, the team finished 9-31, good for sixth in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs for the first time in her career.

The Mercury rebounded in 2024, finishing 19-24 and finishing fourth in the Conference. Cunningham played in a career-high 40 games that season, and recorded 103 field goals, 68 three-pointers, 60 free throws, and played improved defense. Her 141 defensive rebounds and 41 steals were both career-highs, and her ten blocks tied for second-most in her career. In two playoff games, Cunningham had ten field goals, three three-pointers, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Mercury two-games-to-zero to advance to the second round.

Indiana Fever (2025–present)

Cunningham with the Indiana Fever in 2026

On January 31, 2025, Cunningham was traded to the Indiana Fever in a four-team trade which also included the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun. Cunningham has earned recognition as the Fever's "enforcer" after she was ejected from a game against the Connecticut Sun for committing a Flagrant 2 foul by grabbing Jacy Sheldon and pulling her to the ground in retribution for Sheldon poking teammate Caitlin Clark in the eye earlier in the game. The incident went viral.

In the second quarter of the Fever's match-up at Connecticut on August 17, Cunningham left the game with a right knee injury after Connecticut Sun guard, Bria Hartley, stumbled into the paint and fell into Cunningham's leg. On August 19, the Fever said that Cunningham would be out for the remainder of the Fever's season due to her right knee injury. She confirmed reports saying she tore her right MCL, on the August 19 episode of her podcast, "Show Me Something." For the season, she had 82 field goals, 51 three-pointers, 42 free throws, 105 rebounds and 29 steals.

On April 12, 2026, it was announced that Cunningham had re-signed with the Fever.

During a June 22 game against the Phoenix Mercury, Caitlin Clark was called for a technical foul after getting wrapped up with her former teammate DeWanna Bonner. After Clark's foul was called, Cunningham asked the referees why Bonner did not also receive a foul, pointing at her. Bonner told Cunningham to stop pointing at her, and both players were called for technical fouls. Cunningham continued to point at Bonner for over 20 seconds until she was ushered back to her team's bench. Cunningham's pointing later became a meme.

Off the court

Sophie Cunningham

Cunningham is a Christian. In 2026, she said that her faith "keeps me grounded" and described being baptized as an adult as "one of the better things I've done in my life". She regularly re-shares content from faith-based accounts on X and Instagram stories. Cunningham has described her political views as "very much in the middle."

In a July 2026 feature story by ESPN, Cunningham spoke out against the participation of transgender women in women's sports, citing a desire to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men." She later reiterated her view on the topic, calling it "common sense." Her statements were widely praised by conservative political figures and commentators, including US vice president JD Vance and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Demonstrations both supporting and criticizing Cunningham were held before several Fever games.

Television

In December 2022, Cunningham became a recurring analyst for the Phoenix Suns on their Suns Live! pregame, halftime, and post-game TV coverage.

On July 11, 2026, Cunningham appeared as a ring girl at UFC 329, for the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoît Saint Denis. UFC CEO Dana White said that he hired Cunningham eight minutes before her appearance, after she casually joked about taking the role.

Career statistics

Sophie Cunningham

<table><thead><tr><th> GP</th><th>Games played</th><th> GS </th><th>Games started</th><th> MPG </th><th>Minutes per game</th><th> RPG </th><th>Rebounds per game</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> APG </td><td>Assists per game</td><td> SPG </td><td>Steals per game</td><td> BPG </td><td>Blocks per game</td><td> PPG </td><td>Points per game</td></tr><tr><td> TO </td><td>Turnovers per game</td><td> FG% </td><td>Field-goal percentage</td><td> 3P% </td><td>3-point field-goal percentage</td><td> FT% </td><td>Free-throw percentage</td></tr><tr><td> Bold </td><td>Career best</td><td>°</td><td>League leader</td></tr></tbody></table>

Regular season

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>GP</th><th>GS</th><th>MPG</th><th>FG%</th><th>3P%</th><th>FT%</th><th>RPG</th><th>APG</th><th>SPG</th><th>BPG</th><th>TO</th><th>PPG</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>32</td><td>5</td><td>12.2</td><td>.354</td><td>.304</td><td>.882</td><td>1.4</td><td>0.8</td><td>0.3</td><td>0.1</td><td>0.6</td><td>3.1</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>21</td><td>11</td><td>18.9</td><td>.385</td><td>.235</td><td>.880</td><td>1.0</td><td>0.8</td><td>0.5</td><td>0.1</td><td>0.7</td><td>5.0</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>30</td><td>4</td><td>17.5</td><td>.437</td><td>.410</td><td>.704</td><td>2.0</td><td>1.1</td><td>0.5</td><td>0.2</td><td>0.5</td><td>5.6</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>28</td><td>20</td><td>29.5</td><td>.449</td><td>.400</td><td>.875</td><td>4.4</td><td>1.6</td><td>1.0</td><td>0.4</td><td>1.0</td><td>12.6</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>31</td><td>31</td><td>29.0</td><td>.413</td><td>.337</td><td>.875</td><td>2.8</td><td>2.1</td><td>0.6</td><td>0.4</td><td>1.5</td><td>11.3</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>40</td><td>21</td><td>27.8</td><td>.429</td><td>.378</td><td>.870</td><td>3.9</td><td>2.0</td><td>1.0</td><td>0.3</td><td>1.0</td><td>8.4</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Indiana</td><td>30</td><td>13</td><td>25.2</td><td>.469</td><td>.432</td><td>.875</td><td>3.5</td><td>1.2</td><td>1.0</td><td>0.1</td><td>1.1</td><td>8.6</td></tr><tr><td>Career</td><td>7 years, 2 teams</td><td>212</td><td>105</td><td>23.1</td><td>.428</td><td>.372</td><td>.861</td><td>2.8</td><td>1.4</td><td>0.7</td><td>0.2</td><td>0.9</td><td>7.9</td></tr></tbody></table>

Playoffs

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>GP</th><th>GS</th><th>MPG</th><th>FG%</th><th>3P%</th><th>FT%</th><th>RPG</th><th>APG</th><th>SPG</th><th>BPG</th><th>TO</th><th>PPG</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>8.0</td><td>1.000</td><td>1.000°</td><td>.000</td><td>0.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>3.0</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>9.5</td><td>.500</td><td>.333</td><td>—</td><td>1.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>0.0</td><td>1.5</td><td>2.5</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>8</td><td>2</td><td>17.5</td><td>.484</td><td>.565</td><td>1.000</td><td>2.1</td><td>0.8</td><td>0.3</td><td>0.9</td><td>0.8</td><td>6.4</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>31.0</td><td>.455</td><td>.375</td><td>.333</td><td>2.5</td><td>2.0</td><td>0.5</td><td>0.0</td><td>2.5</td><td>7.5</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>31.5</td><td>.500</td><td>.429</td><td>—</td><td>4.5</td><td>3.5</td><td>1.5</td><td>0.5</td><td>0.5</td><td>6.5</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Indiana</td><td colspan="13">Did not play (injury)</td></tr><tr><td>Career</td><td>5 years, 1 team</td><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>19.5</td><td>.491</td><td>.500</td><td>.625</td><td>2.2</td><td>1.1</td><td>0.4</td><td>0.5</td><td>1.0</td><td>5.8</td></tr></tbody></table>