By Chris Robinson
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has made headlines in recent weeks due to her theatrics on the court.
Cunningham plays for the Indiana Fever and there are many reasons why fans have been gravitating towards her story in recent times.
Cunningham as born on August 16, 1996, in Columbia, Missouri, and grew up on her family’s southern Missouri farm. Her parents, Jim and Paula Cunningham, were both student-athletes at the University of Missouri; her father participated in football while her mother competed in track and field. Cunningham credits her farm upbringing for her strong work ethic and “farm strong” mentality.
Cunningham was athletic from a young age, earning a black belt in taekwondo at just six years old. At Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, she competed in basketball and volleyball and even made history as the first female to score points for the school’s football team, serving as a kicker as she successfully made two of four extra points attempts.
Sophie played college basketball at the University of Missouri, where she became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,187 points and leader in free throws made with 537. She was a three-time All-SEC First Team selection and led Missouri to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances after the team endured a decade-long drought. She also earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors and was named an All-American during her time with the Tigers.
Cunningham produced averages of 17.0 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 3.0 assists per game for Missouri.
In 2019, Cunningham was selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Mercury on draft night. This was also the highest draft pick in Missouri Tigers history. She played six seasons with Phoenix, developing a reputation for her toughness and fiery competitiveness. In January 2025, she was traded to the Indiana Fever.
This trade also linked her up with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, who she already thought highly of.
“I think she’s a gem,” Cunningham said during the Travis Hearn podcast of Clark before becoming her teammate. “I didn’t know her, but All-Star Weekend we kind of bantered back and forth a little bit. And she’s lovely. She has a lot of pressure on her shoulders.”
“I think she’s doing a lot of great things for women’s basketball, and I’m a fan. Like I would love to play with her one day, for real,” Cunningham added.
Cunningham’s profile skyrocketed after a viral on-court incident in June 2025, when she defended Clark during a physical altercation with Jacy Sheldon from the Connecticut Sun.
This incident lead to her ejection and a massive surge in her popularity and social media following. She is widely seen as Clark’s protector and has embraced the role, with fans calling her “The Enforcer” as her jersey sales also soared.
Some additional facts about Cunningham:
• She played professional basketball overseas in Australia for the Melbourne Boomers and also France during WNBA offseasons.
• She set a WNBA record for 17 consecutive games with at least two three-pointers made in 2022.
Cunningham has spent time as an analyst for the Phoenix Suns on their Suns Live! pregame, halftime, and post-game TV coverage.
• Cunningham gained over 800,000 social media followers and significant endorsement potential after defending Clark in 2025.
Sophie Cunningham’s journey from Missouri farm girl to WNBA star is marked by athletic versatility, leadership, and a fierce loyalty to her teammates.
Check below for more of her story.
Chris Robinson can be reached at crobinson@hustleboss.com