Have you learnt the actual Sophie Cunningham? The sincere reply is, in all probability not. You realize of the Phoenix Mercury sharpshooter, who is thought for having a aggressive hearth that, at occasions, has usually been intertwined with a story that’s adopted her since school. Truly, approach earlier than that. In Kindergarten, dad and mom scolded her on the soccer subject 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 fireplace 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 received 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 hearken to all that noise,” she tells us over Zoom in June. “I received that stuff in school, too. We beat South Carolina a number of years in a row and abruptly I’m the soiled participant and it’s like, Nah, I’m simply out working. I’m working y’all’s ass, you understand 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 most effective teammate, I wanna be the most effective competitor [and] I wanna do no matter it takes for my staff 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 courtroom. There’s been many, many cases of that taking place 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) concerning 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 they’d beef, which Kah squashed. “They anticipate us to be all good and glad and shit, like, that’s not the way it goes,” she informed us for the quilt of SLAM 236. “We’re the most effective at what we do. We’re tremendous aggressive.”
After we requested Cunningham not too long ago 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 feel that folks see me and it’s so humorous that any time I get a brand new teammate that perhaps, like, they’re aggressive, we form 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 courtroom 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 alright to go on the market, work laborious and sweat after which nonetheless be a pleasant human and a distinct individual off the courtroom, too. Like, we’re not going in opposition to highschool[ers] or something like that. These are the most effective folks on this planet, so that you gotta convey it proper.
I feel for me when Kah got here in, I didn’t assume two issues of it. I used to be simply so glad that we had been getting one other badass participant on our staff that’s gonna assist us win a championship right here quickly. For me, I don’t hearken to all that noise.”
It’s what Cunningham brings to the staff that’s allowed her to solidify her position 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 Instances as somebody who likes to “muck it up.”
“Each time Sophie performs, the extent of the sport goes up. And you understand, she’s finished that constantly yearly she’s been on our staff. And that’s why she’s so necessary to what we do,” DT stated, per The Subsequent in 2022. Years prior, she gave Cunningham recommendation about remaining true to herself, too. “You’ve been taking part in 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.”
Throughout the 2022 season, Cunningham dropped a career-high 23 factors in opposition to the Liberty as a starter in July, after which just a few 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, flattening pictures, or doling out dimes—like she did in her win in opposition to the Storm— her capacity to adapt to regardless of the staff wants makes her a key part.
And because the WNBA continues to develop, and new followers tune in to look at 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 stored 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 up to now, and her pursuits off the courtroom as an analyst for the Suns, displaying 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: You realize, 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 distinct staff a few these years simply because it’s similar to a lot drama was simply happening. And so, once we received this new possession, we received an entire new entrance workplace, we received an entire new teaching employees who’re completely simply phenomenal folks they usually do issues the precise approach they usually’re all about ensuring us ladies have the identical issues as our brothers on the Suns do.
I simply love their method to the whole lot and once I noticed, the roster that we received, I used to be like, All proper, we’re gonna be legit this yr. With that typically folks’s egos get hit a little bit 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 staff. So I’m like, you understand what, I’m right here to win, I’m right here to compete. I’m hopeful to be an Olympian at some point, perhaps the three×3 staff. So, why would I not wish to encompass myself with individuals who have been the place I wanna go? So, for me, my position does look a little bit completely different. I’m coming off the bench this yr, however once I let you know, it’s simply a lot enjoyable to be on this staff.
It has been like the most effective expertise and everybody’s simply genuinely, actually good folks.
WSLAM: What’s the vibe and power of the staff?
SC: Oh my God, we have now a lot power. We have now loads of personalities [and] everybody’s simply goofy. I do know that we play basketball, however once I say that we chortle 24/7, [it] in all probability appears like an excessive amount of typically as a result of like, hey, I’ll want to love dial it in a little bit bit. It’s enjoyable although as a result of we do compete at such a excessive degree, however proper when the ball stops, we’re all similar to goofing round having an excellent time.
WSLAM: Out of your perspective, how has your recreation advanced over time and what have you ever realized?
SC: I feel there’s loads of discuss our League proper now, which I completely love…I feel we have now loads of eyes and a spotlight on our League, and I’m simply glad to be part of it throughout this time. I feel the highschool, school soar is very large, however the school to the professionals is even 20 occasions extra that. So, I feel the primary couple of years, you form of have to search out your toes. There’s some individuals who can go into the League they usually have the inexperienced mild straight away and the balls of their hand 24/7. You see them form of take off quite a bit sooner, whereas [for me], I used to be DT’s sub for almost all of my profession. I lastly labored my approach into the beginning lineup about two or three years in the past, so [I] positively was very persistent, was loads of ups and downs. It was a thoughts recreation at some factors.
For me, I simply had to ensure I stayed prepared and truthfully, I realized that from DT. She’s the final word professional, she’s the GOAT of our recreation. Simply the best way that she goes about her on a regular basis exercise to develop into higher every day and typically that’s not doing something and it’s a psychological day. I feel I’ve actually actually have realized from the easiest. And, for me, I’m seeing [in] my profession that the extra I stack the times the higher I develop into.
WSLAM: You’re a participant that folks have talked about for some time by way of being tremendous bodily. For brand spanking new followers, there’s a false impression that that type of play could be very particular and concentrating on one individual. What’s your perspective on that?
SC: You form of hit it on the top as a result of to be sincere, I feel that there are loads 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 boys’s aspect form of having Caitlin Clark’s again, too, which is form of stunning simply because they understand how bodily our recreation has all the time been. However once I let you know 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 feel that’s the primary soar that folks don’t perceive.
It’s like, her talent degree will come, the whole lot else will come; the rookies normally. But it surely’s the physicality that folks actually must get used to. And so for me, I don’t assume anybody’s being focused. If something, I feel we have to give her a little bit little bit of grace typically as a result of she has quite a bit on her plate and loads of eyes on her. However with that, I feel that is gonna be actually good for her. She’s gonna be nice. I feel the rookie class is gonna be phenomenal for our League as soon as they get that physicality factor form of labored out. It takes a little bit little bit of time [but] they’re gonna be simply tremendous.
For me, I’ve all the time been a bodily participant. Coming into the League, I used to be truly a little bit bit stunned of how bodily it was as a result of I believed I used to be bodily. However once I let you know, it doesn’t matter how huge, how tall you might be, everybody is robust and bodily on this League and also you higher convey it in any other case it’s gonna look perhaps dangerous.
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 simply guys have actually been round one another?
SC: Yeah, it’s positively like the primary time that we’ve been round [each other]. We’ve all the time competed and I feel that any time you set individuals who compete at that degree and form of have that canine and that, that form of like shit about him a little bit bit that it’s gonna be form of fascinating to see how they really staff up.
However once I say it’s me, Kah, DT. You may have [Natasha] Cloud. All 4 of us, we have now a little bit little bit of one thing to us and so to really put all of us on the identical staff, it’s been so enjoyable as a result of now we simply hype one another up. I really feel dangerous for groups like they haven’t even seen the most effective of us but. Kah’s been killing it. She has completely been killing it. She’s a canine and I’m simply glad that she’s on my staff to be sincere.
WSLAM: You’re simply as outspoken off the courtroom, too. However you’ve additionally been displaying out within the tunnel this yr. Are you able to discuss your sense of fashion?
SC: You realize what? To be sincere, I do love style however I form of wish to preserve it easy, too. The style style, it’s not my vibe. I feel I simply wouldn’t look good in it. I feel the rationale why we’re bringing the tunnel suits this yr—it’s been a piece within the course of. I additionally assume 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 greatest time to be within the W proper now. And so why would you not form of present out a little bit bit in these style suits?
WSLAM: We’re right here for it! You’re additionally actually into broadcasting as nicely. 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 loads of passions and loads of loves outdoors of basketball. I feel 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 finished it in my life. I’ve all the time been on the opposite aspect of the digicam, however I’m like, I may discuss to all for 10 hours. This will’t be that onerous. 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 cherished it. It’s quite a bit more durable than it appears to be like, too. After I watch video games now I’m listening to the broadcaster.
I’m attempting to study this yr [and] I received to do in-studio and shade commentating and I simply fell in love with it. To look at these guys carry out on the degree they do [and] to see the sport form of break down and be simplified, but additionally so sophisticated on the identical time. It was simply fascinating to me.
I received to form of develop 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’d like to get into broadcasting [when] I’m finished. However then once more, I’d like to be an island woman in some way and receives a commission for that. I don’t even know what I wish to do with my life [laughs]. So, we’ll see.
Images by way of Getty Photographs.
