Are you aware the actual Sophie Cunningham? The trustworthy reply is, most likely not. of the Phoenix Mercury sharpshooter, who is thought for having a aggressive hearth that, at instances, has typically been intertwined with a story that’s adopted her since faculty. Truly, means earlier than that. In Kindergarten, mother and father scolded her on the soccer area for being “too aggressive, too tough.” She by no means wavered, not as a prime ranked recruit and former McDonald’s All-American in highschool, or at Mizzou, the place she emerged into this system’s all-time main scorer and led her squad to back-to-back-to-back-to-back appearances within the NCAA event.
However even amidst all of that success, the hometown standout couldn’t shake the notion that the hearth that she exudes on the hardwood—the physicality, the celly’s after big-time performs, the hair flips—are deliberately petty acts by a “soiled participant.” When the Tigers confronted off in opposition to South Carolina in the course of the 2017-18 season, followers booed her any time she bought the rock. After which, within the second quarter, a scuffle ensued on the prime of the important thing between the Gamecocks and the Tigers, inflicting a surge of backlash surrounding the Tigers, and Cunningham particularly.
“For me, I don’t take heed to all that noise,” she tells us over Zoom in June. “I bought that stuff in faculty, too. We beat South Carolina a number of years in a row and impulsively I’m the soiled participant and it’s like, Nah, I’m simply out working. I’m working y’all’s ass, what I imply?
However I can’t actually say that. I’ve been used to it however I simply know that I’ve a really tight circle. I lean on them fairly a bit…For me, I simply wish to be the perfect teammate, I wanna be the perfect competitor [and] I wanna do no matter it takes for my group to win and all that different noise can simply be squashed.”
That was six years in the past, however all through her profession within the WNBA, Cunningham has nonetheless needed to take care of the noise that that is who she is, even off the court docket. There’s been many, many situations of that occuring all through her profession, probably the most well-known of which being what went down between her and then-Sky star Kahleah Copper throughout Recreation 4 of the 2021 WNBA Finals. Everybody was speaking (and tweeting) in regards to the controversial second.
However again in 2022, Copper assured us moments like which can be all a part of what occurs when aggressive athletes go at it. Some even assumed that they had beef, which Kah squashed. “They count on us to be all good and blissful and shit, like, that’s not the way it goes,” she informed us for the duvet of SLAM 236. “We’re the perfect at what we do. We’re tremendous aggressive.”
Once we requested Cunningham lately about how she’s handled these narratives about her, she echoed that very same sentiment. “Thanks for asking that query as a result of I believe that individuals see me and it’s so humorous that any time I get a brand new teammate that perhaps, like, they’re aggressive, we type of go at it. They’re like, Oh, you’re truly like, very nice and enjoyable to be round. I’m like, duh. Why can’t I be aggressive on the court docket and why can’t all of us hang around after? I wish to change that narrative for females that it’s OK to compete, it’s OK to play bodily. It’s okay to go on the market, work arduous and sweat after which nonetheless be a pleasant human and a unique particular person off the court docket, too. Like, we’re not going in opposition to highschool[ers] or something like that. These are the perfect folks on the earth, so that you gotta carry it proper.
I believe for me when Kah got here in, I didn’t suppose two issues of it. I used to be simply so blissful that we had been getting one other badass participant on our group that’s gonna assist us win a championship right here quickly. For me, I don’t take heed to all that noise.”
It’s what Cunningham brings to the group that’s allowed her to solidify her function on the Mercury, whether or not she’s been beginning, or as is the case this season, primarily coming off the bench. It has earned her reward from legends like teammate Diana Taurasi, who as soon as described Cunningham to the New York Occasions as somebody who likes to “muck it up.”
“At any time when Sophie performs, the extent of the sport goes up. And , she’s completed that constantly yearly she’s been on our group. And that’s why she’s so vital to what we do,” DT mentioned, per The Subsequent in 2022. Years prior, she gave Cunningham recommendation about remaining true to herself, too. “You’ve been enjoying this recreation ever because you had been a child,” Cunningham as soon as recalled Taurasi telling her. “You know the way to play. I’ve seen you. You know the way to play, so simply go on the market and have enjoyable.”
Through the 2022 season, Cunningham dropped a career-high 23 factors in opposition to the Liberty as a starter in July, after which a number of days later, adopted it up with a 36-point efficiency in opposition to the Lynx, together with seven boards and 5 steals, a historic stat line that made her solely the second participant in WNBA historical past to take action. The opposite? Cynthia Cooper in ‘97. Whether or not she’s dropping buckets, pulling down pictures, or doling out dimes—like she did in her win in opposition to the Storm— her potential to adapt to regardless of the group wants makes her a key part.
And because the WNBA continues to develop, and new followers tune in to observe not simply the Mercury, however throughout the League, there’s a sentiment that moments of competitiveness are private, or that vets are concentrating on and/or jealous of the rookies. Cunningham saved it actual about all of this, and in an unique interview, we chopped it up with the star about conversations surrounding Caitlin Clark, her personal profession so far, and her pursuits off the court docket as an analyst for the Suns, exhibiting out within the tunnel and extra.
WSLAM: Hey Sophie! How do you’re feeling just like the season goes to date? What was your mindset going into it?
Sophie Cunningham: , since I’ve been in Phoenix, I’ve been right here happening my sixth yr, it has been a curler coaster. I’m somebody who’s gonna shoot it straight that, like, it has not been probably the most enjoyable years. I didn’t know if I used to be gonna go to a unique group a few these years simply because it’s identical to a lot drama was simply happening. And so, after we bought this new possession, we bought a complete new entrance workplace, we bought a complete new teaching employees who’re completely simply phenomenal folks they usually do issues the best means they usually’re all about ensuring us girls have the identical issues as our brothers on the Suns do.
I simply love their strategy to the whole lot and after I noticed, the roster that we bought, I used to be like, All proper, we’re gonna be legit this yr. With that generally folks’s egos get hit a bit of bit—I’ve been beginning the previous two or three years, however I knew that I’m gonna have 4 or 5 Olympians on our group. So I’m like, what, I’m right here to win, I’m right here to compete. I’m hopeful to be an Olympian sooner or later, perhaps the three×3 group. So, why would I not wish to encompass myself with individuals who have been the place I wanna go? So, for me, my function does look a bit of totally different. I’m coming off the bench this yr, however after I inform you, it’s simply a lot enjoyable to be on this group.
It has been like the perfect expertise and everybody’s simply genuinely, actually good folks.
WSLAM: What’s the vibe and power of the group?
SC: Oh my God, we’ve a lot power. We now have a number of personalities [and] everybody’s simply goofy. I do know that we play basketball, however after I say that we snigger 24/7, [it] most likely seems like an excessive amount of generally as a result of like, hey, I’ll want to love dial it in a bit of bit. It’s enjoyable although as a result of we do compete at such a excessive stage, however proper when the ball stops, we’re all identical to goofing round having a superb time.
WSLAM: Out of your perspective, how has your recreation developed through the years and what have you ever discovered?
SC: I believe there’s a number of speak about our League proper now, which I completely love…I believe we’ve a number of eyes and a focus on our League, and I’m simply blissful to be part of it throughout this time. I believe the highschool, faculty soar is huge, however the faculty to the professionals is even 20 instances extra that. So, I believe the primary couple of years, you type of have to search out your toes. There’s some individuals who can go into the League they usually have the inexperienced mild immediately and the balls of their hand 24/7. You see them type of take off loads sooner, whereas [for me], I used to be DT’s sub for almost all of my profession. I lastly labored my means into the beginning lineup about two or three years in the past, so [I] undoubtedly was very persistent, was a number of ups and downs. It was a thoughts recreation at some factors.
For me, I simply had to ensure I stayed prepared and actually, I discovered that from DT. She’s the final word professional, she’s the GOAT of our recreation. Simply the way in which that she goes about her on a regular basis exercise to change into higher every day and generally that’s not doing something and it’s a psychological day. I believe I’ve actually really have discovered from the easiest. And, for me, I’m seeing [in] my profession that the extra I stack the times the higher I change into.
WSLAM: You’re a participant that individuals have talked about for some time when it comes to being tremendous bodily. For brand spanking new followers, there’s a false impression that that fashion of play may be very particular and concentrating on one particular person. What’s your perspective on that?
SC: You type of hit it on the top as a result of to be trustworthy, I believe that there are a number of new eyes, however with that, there’s lots of people who’re uneducated about our League.
You see lots of people within the public eye on the lads’s aspect type of having Caitlin Clark’s again, too, which is type of stunning simply because they understand how bodily our recreation has at all times been. However after I inform you that the narrative that we’re all in opposition to Caitlin or the vets in opposition to the rookies that must be squashed as a result of it’s not like that. I promise you, it’s not like that. I’ve had my jaw damaged, I’ve damaged a finger, I’ve damaged my nostril. Everybody has tales of how bodily this League actually is and I believe that’s the most important soar that individuals don’t perceive.
It’s like, her ability stage will come, the whole lot else will come; the rookies on the whole. Nevertheless it’s the physicality that individuals actually must get used to. And so for me, I don’t suppose anybody’s being focused. If something, I believe we have to give her a bit of little bit of grace generally as a result of she has loads on her plate and a number of eyes on her. However with that, I believe that is gonna be actually good for her. She’s gonna be nice. I believe the rookie class is gonna be phenomenal for our League as soon as they get that physicality factor type of labored out. It takes a bit of little bit of time [but] they’re gonna be simply high-quality.
For me, I’ve at all times been a bodily participant. Coming into the League, I used to be truly a bit of bit shocked of how bodily it was as a result of I believed I used to be bodily. However after I inform you, it doesn’t matter how massive, how tall you might be, everybody is robust and bodily on this League and also you higher carry it in any other case it’s gonna look perhaps unhealthy.
WSLAM: Talking of physicality, what has it been like teaming up with somebody as aggressive as Kah? Is that this the primary time that you just guys have actually been round one another?
SC: Yeah, it’s undoubtedly like the primary time that we’ve been round [each other]. We’ve at all times competed and I believe that any time you set individuals who compete at that stage and type of have that canine and that, that type of like shit about him a bit of bit that it’s gonna be type of attention-grabbing to see how they really group up.
However after I say it’s me, Kah, DT. You might have [Natasha] Cloud. All 4 of us, we’ve a bit of little bit of one thing to us and so to really put all of us on the identical group, it’s been so enjoyable as a result of now we simply hype one another up. I really feel unhealthy for groups like they haven’t even seen the perfect of us but. Kah’s been killing it. She has completely been killing it. She’s a canine and I’m simply blissful that she’s on my group to be trustworthy.
WSLAM: You’re simply as outspoken off the court docket, too. However you’ve additionally been exhibiting out within the tunnel this yr. Are you able to speak about your sense of fashion?
SC: what? To be trustworthy, I do love style however I type of wish to maintain it easy, too. The style style, it’s not my vibe. I believe I simply wouldn’t look good in it. I believe the explanation why we’re bringing the tunnel suits this yr—it’s been a piece within the course of. I additionally suppose the extra money you get, the extra you’re capable of do what you need, too—[but it] being 12 months 6 and simply final yr, they had been getting higher.
However this yr I wished them to be actually good as a result of – the quantity of eyes. I’m telling you, the advertising and marketing, it’s the finest time to be within the W proper now. And so why would you not type of present out a bit of bit in these style suits?
WSLAM: We’re right here for it! You’re additionally actually into broadcasting as properly. Are you able to discuss extra about how you bought into that and what it’s like showcasing your persona and pursuits outdoors of the sport?
SC: I’ve a number of passions and a number of loves outdoors of basketball. I believe that’s how I’m capable of get pleasure from basketball nonetheless as a result of I’ve that stability. I don’t go abroad, I make it up in advertising and marketing cash by way of endorsements. After which, I used to be simply blessed with an amazing alternative that the Suns wanted a broadcaster. I’ve by no means actually completed it in my life. I’ve at all times been on the opposite aspect of the digital camera, however I’m like, I may discuss to all for 10 hours. This could’t be that arduous. And so, I truly ended up doing it two years in the past and that was extra simply in-studio, pre, half and put up recreation, interviewing a few of the guys and I actually beloved it. It’s loads tougher than it seems to be, too. Once I watch video games now I’m listening to the broadcaster.
I’m attempting to study this yr [and] I bought to do in-studio and shade commentating and I simply fell in love with it. To look at these guys carry out on the stage they do [and] to see the sport type of break down and be simplified, but additionally so sophisticated on the similar time. It was simply fascinating to me.
I bought to type of change into actually shut with our proprietor and our CFO and so I’ve gotten to really study the enterprise aspect of sport, too. I’m turning right into a nerd. I’ve by no means been a nerd…however I’ve actually discovered it fascinating this previous yr.
I might like to get into broadcasting [when] I’m completed. However then once more, I might like to be an island woman one way or the other and receives a commission for that. I don’t even know what I wish to do with my life [laughs]. So, we’ll see.
Photographs through Getty Photographs.