Have you learnt the actual Sophie Cunningham? The sincere reply is, most likely not. You understand of the Phoenix Mercury sharpshooter, who is understood for having a aggressive fireplace that, at occasions, has usually been intertwined with a story that’s adopted her since school. Truly, approach 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 high 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 throughout the 2017-18 season, followers booed her any time she obtained the rock. After which, within the second quarter, a scuffle ensued on the high 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 obtained that stuff in school, too. We beat South Carolina a number of years in a row and swiftly I’m the soiled participant and it’s like, Nah, I’m simply out working. I’m working y’all’s ass, you recognize 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 one of the best teammate, I wanna be one of the best competitor [and] I wanna do no matter it takes for my crew 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) in regards to the controversial second.
However again in 2022, Copper assured us moments like which are 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 advised us for the duvet of SLAM 236. “We’re one of the best 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 possibly, 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 okay to go on the market, work arduous and sweat after which nonetheless be a pleasant human and a special particular person off the courtroom, too. Like, we’re not going in opposition to highschool[ers] or something like that. These are one of the best individuals on the earth, so that you gotta convey 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 blissful that we have been getting one other badass participant on our crew 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 crew 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.”
“Each time Sophie performs, the extent of the sport goes up. And you recognize, she’s completed that constantly yearly she’s been on our crew. And that’s why she’s so essential 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 sport 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.”
Throughout 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 shelling out dimes—like she did in her win in opposition to the Storm— her means to adapt to regardless of the crew 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 to this point, 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 thus far? What was your mindset going into it?
Sophie Cunningham: You understand, 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 special crew a few these years simply because it’s similar to a lot drama was simply occurring. And so, after we obtained this new possession, we obtained an entire new entrance workplace, we obtained an entire new teaching employees who’re completely simply phenomenal individuals and so they do issues the correct approach and so they’re all about ensuring us girls have the identical issues as our brothers on the Suns do.
I simply love their strategy to every thing and once I noticed, the roster that we obtained, I used to be like, All proper, we’re gonna be legit this 12 months. With that generally individuals’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 crew. So I’m like, you recognize what, I’m right here to win, I’m right here to compete. I’m hopeful to be an Olympian sooner or later, possibly the three×3 crew. 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 little bit totally different. I’m coming off the bench this 12 months, however once I let you know, it’s simply a lot enjoyable to be on this crew.
It has been like one of the best expertise and everybody’s simply genuinely, actually good individuals.
WSLAM: What’s the vibe and power of the crew?
SC: Oh my God, we’ve a lot power. We have now plenty of personalities [and] everybody’s simply goofy. I do know that we play basketball, however once I say that we snort 24/7, [it] most likely feels like an excessive amount of generally 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 stage, 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 sport advanced through the years and what have you ever realized?
SC: I feel there’s plenty of speak about our League proper now, which I completely love…I feel we’ve plenty of eyes and a spotlight on our League, and I’m simply blissful to be part of it throughout this time. I feel the highschool, school bounce is huge, 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 seek out your toes. There’s some individuals who can go into the League and so they have the inexperienced mild instantly and the balls of their hand 24/7. You see them form of take off lots 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] undoubtedly was very persistent, was plenty of ups and downs. It was a thoughts sport at some factors.
For me, I simply had to ensure I stayed prepared and truthfully, I realized that from DT. She’s the last word professional, she’s the GOAT of our sport. Simply the best way 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 feel I’ve actually actually have realized from the perfect. 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 folks have talked about for some time when it comes to being tremendous bodily. For brand new followers, there’s a false impression that that model of play could be very particular and concentrating on one particular person. What’s your perspective on that?
SC: You form of hit it on the pinnacle as a result of to be sincere, I feel that there are plenty 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 form of having Caitlin Clark’s again, too, which is form of stunning simply because they know the way bodily our sport has at all times 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 important bounce that folks don’t perceive.
It’s like, her talent stage will come, every thing else will come; the rookies generally. But it surely’s the physicality that folks actually should get used to. And so for me, I don’t suppose anybody’s being focused. If something, I feel we have to give her a little bit little bit of grace generally as a result of she has lots on her plate and plenty 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 wonderful.
For me, I’ve at all times 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 assumed I used to be bodily. However once I let you know, it doesn’t matter how huge, how tall you’re, everybody is powerful and bodily on this League and also you higher convey it in any other case it’s gonna look possibly 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 simply 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 feel that any time you set individuals who compete at that stage 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 attention-grabbing to see how they really crew up.
However once I say it’s me, Kah, DT. You will have [Natasha] Cloud. All 4 of us, we’ve a little bit little bit of one thing to us and so to truly put all of us on the identical crew, 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 one of the best 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 crew to be sincere.
WSLAM: You’re simply as outspoken off the courtroom, too. However you’ve additionally been displaying out within the tunnel this 12 months. Are you able to speak about your sense of favor?
SC: You understand what? To be sincere, I do love trend however I form of wish to hold it easy, too. The trend trend, 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 more cash 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 wished them to be actually good as a result of – the quantity of eyes. I’m telling you, the advertising, 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 trend 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 character and pursuits exterior of the sport?
SC: I’ve plenty of passions and plenty of loves exterior of basketball. I feel that’s how I’m in a position to take pleasure in basketball nonetheless as a result of I’ve that steadiness. I don’t go abroad, I make it up in advertising cash via endorsements. After which, I used to be simply blessed with an awesome 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 digicam, however I’m like, I may discuss to all for 10 hours. This could’t be that tough. 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 sport, interviewing among the guys and I actually liked it. It’s lots more durable than it seems, 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 obtained to do in-studio and coloration commentating and I simply fell in love with it. To observe these guys carry out on the stage they do [and] to see the sport form of break down and be simplified, but in addition so sophisticated on the identical time. It was simply fascinating to me.
I obtained to form of change into 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 completed. However then once more, I’d like to be an island woman by some means 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 through Getty Photos.