Are you aware the true Sophie Cunningham? The trustworthy reply is, most likely not. of the Phoenix Mercury sharpshooter, who is thought for having a aggressive fireplace that, at instances, has usually been intertwined with a story that’s adopted her since faculty. Really, means 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 match.
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 through 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 abruptly I’m the soiled participant and it’s like, Nah, I’m simply out working. I’m working y’all’s ass, you realize 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 need to be the perfect teammate, I wanna be the perfect 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 cope with the noise that that is who she is, even off the court docket. 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 Sport 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 they’d beef, which Kah squashed. “They count on us to be all good and completely happy and shit, like, that’s not the way it goes,” she informed us for the quilt of SLAM 236. “We’re the perfect at what we do. We’re tremendous aggressive.”
After 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 feel 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 really 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 need 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 onerous and sweat after which nonetheless be a pleasant human and a distinct 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 individuals on the earth, so that you gotta deliver it proper.
I feel for me when Kah got here in, I didn’t suppose two issues of it. I used to be simply so completely happy that we have 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 take heed 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 Occasions as somebody who likes to “muck it up.”
“At any time when Sophie performs, the extent of the sport goes up. And you realize, she’s achieved that persistently yearly she’s been on our staff. And that’s why she’s so necessary 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 taking part in this recreation ever because you have 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.”
In the course of 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, flattening photographs, or dispensing dimes—like she did in her win in opposition to the Storm— her means to adapt to regardless of the staff wants makes her a key element.
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 focusing 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 to this point, 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 occurring my sixth 12 months, 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 identical to a lot drama was simply occurring. And so, after we bought this new possession, we bought an entire new entrance workplace, we bought an entire new teaching employees who’re completely simply phenomenal individuals and so they do issues the correct means and so they’re all about ensuring us girls have the identical issues as our brothers on the Suns do.
I simply love their method to all the things and after I noticed, the roster that we bought, I used to be like, All proper, we’re gonna be legit this 12 months. With that typically individuals’s egos get hit just a little 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 realize what, I’m right here to win, I’m right here to compete. I’m hopeful to be an Olympian in the future, perhaps the three×3 staff. So, why would I not need to encompass myself with individuals who have been the place I wanna go? So, for me, my position does look just a little totally different. I’m coming off the bench this 12 months, however after I let you know, it’s simply a lot enjoyable to be on this staff.
It has been like the perfect expertise and everybody’s simply genuinely, actually good individuals.
WSLAM: What’s the vibe and power of the staff?
SC: Oh my God, we now have a lot power. We’ve got lots of personalities [and] everybody’s simply goofy. I do know that we play basketball, however after I say that we chortle 24/7, [it] most likely feels like an excessive amount of typically as a result of like, hey, I’ll want to love dial it in just a little 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 time.
WSLAM: Out of your perspective, how has your recreation developed through the years and what have you ever realized?
SC: I feel there’s lots of discuss our League proper now, which I completely love…I feel we now have lots of eyes and a focus on our League, and I’m simply completely happy to be part of it throughout this time. I feel the highschool, faculty soar is very large, however the faculty to the professionals is even 20 instances extra that. So, I feel the primary couple of years, you type of have to seek out your toes. There’s some individuals who can go into the League and so they have the inexperienced mild immediately and the balls of their hand 24/7. You see them type 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 means into the beginning lineup about two or three years in the past, so [I] positively was very persistent, was lots of ups and downs. It was a thoughts recreation at some factors.
For me, I simply had to verify I stayed prepared and truthfully, I realized that from DT. She’s the last word professional, she’s the GOAT of our recreation. Simply the best way that she goes about her on a regular basis exercise to grow to be 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 grow to be.
WSLAM: You’re a participant that individuals have talked about for some time by way of being tremendous bodily. For brand spanking new followers, there’s a false impression that that model of play may be very particular and focusing 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 feel that there are lots 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 shocking simply because they know the way bodily our recreation has at all times been. However after 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 principal soar that individuals don’t perceive.
It’s like, her talent stage will come, all the things else will come; the rookies typically. However it’s the physicality that individuals actually need to get used to. And so for me, I don’t suppose anybody’s being focused. If something, I feel we have to give her just a little little bit of grace typically as a result of she has quite a bit on her plate and lots 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 type of labored out. It takes just a little 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 really just a little bit shocked of how bodily it was as a result of I assumed I used to be bodily. However after I let you know, it doesn’t matter how large, how tall you might be, everybody is powerful and bodily on this League and also you higher deliver 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 positively like the primary time that we’ve been round [each other]. We’ve at all times competed and I feel that any time you place individuals who compete at that stage and type of have that canine and that, that type of like shit about him just a little bit that it’s gonna be type of fascinating to see how they really staff up.
However after I say it’s me, Kah, DT. You have got [Natasha] Cloud. All 4 of us, we now have just a little little bit of one thing to us and so to truly 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 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 completely happy that she’s on my staff 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 12 months. Are you able to discuss your sense of favor?
SC: what? To be trustworthy, I do love vogue however I type of need to hold it easy, too. The style vogue, it’s not my vibe. I feel I simply wouldn’t look good in it. I feel the explanation why we’re bringing the tunnel matches this 12 months—it’s been a piece within the course of. I additionally suppose the extra money you get, the extra you’re in a position to do what you need, too—[but it] being Yr 6 and simply final 12 months, they have been getting higher.
However this 12 months I needed them to be actually good as a result of – the quantity of eyes. I’m telling you, the advertising, it’s the finest time to be within the W proper now. And so why would you not type of present out just a little bit in these vogue matches?
WSLAM: We’re right here for it! You’re additionally actually into broadcasting as effectively. 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 lots of passions and lots of loves outdoors of basketball. I feel that’s how I’m in a position to get pleasure from basketball nonetheless as a result of I’ve that stability. I don’t go abroad, I make it up in advertising cash by way of endorsements. After which, I used to be simply blessed with a terrific alternative that the Suns wanted a broadcaster. I’ve by no means actually achieved it in my life. I’ve at all times 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 arduous. And so, I really ended up doing it two years in the past and that was extra simply in-studio, pre, half and submit recreation, interviewing a number of the guys and I actually liked it. It’s quite a bit tougher than it appears to be like, too. Once I watch video games now I’m listening to the broadcaster.
I’m making an attempt to study this 12 months [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 in addition so difficult on the identical time. It was simply fascinating to me.
I bought to type of grow to be actually shut with our proprietor and our CFO and so I’ve gotten to truly 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 12 months.
I’d like to get into broadcasting [when] I’m achieved. However then once more, I’d like to be an island woman one way or the other and receives a commission for that. I don’t even know what I need to do with my life [laughs]. So, we’ll see.
Photographs through Getty Photographs.
