Sophie Cunningham (basketball)

Sophie Cunningham
Cunningham with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023
No. 8 – Indiana Fever
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1996-08-16) August 16, 1996
Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High schoolRock Bridge
(Columbia, Missouri)
CollegeMissouri (2015–2019)
WNBA draft2019: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Drafted byPhoenix Mercury
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2024Phoenix Mercury
2019–2020Melbourne Boomers
2025–presentIndiana Fever
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference 

Sophie Elizabeth Cunningham (born August 16, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Missouri Tigers.

Early life and education

Cunningham was born August 16, 1996, to Jim and Paula Cunningham.[1] Her parents were both student athletes at the University of Missouri, along with other members of her family.[1] She achieved a black belt in taekwondo at age six.[2][3]

Cunningham attended Rock Bridge High School, starring on the girls' basketball and volleyball teams. When the kicker on the football team had their season ended with an ACL tear, Cunningham joined the football team as their kicker as well, going two for four on FG attempts.[4][5][6]

College career

Cunningham played four seasons of college basketball at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri for the Tigers.[7] In 129 career starts, Cunningham averaged 17.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 3.0 apg for the Tigers.

Professional career

Phoenix Mercury (2019–2025)

Cunningham was selected as the thirteenth (13th) overall pick, the first pick in the second round, of the 2019 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury.[8][9] Cunningham was the eighth University of Missouri alum to be drafted into the WNBA and was the highest selection for a former Tiger.

Indiana Fever (2025–present)

On January 31, 2025, Cunningham was traded to the Indiana Fever in a four-team trade that also included the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun.[10][11][12] Cunningham has earned recognition as the Fever's enforcer after she was ejected from a game against the Connecticut Sun for grabbing Jacy Sheldon and pulling her to the ground in retribution for Sheldon poking teammate Caitlin Clark in the eye earlier in the game.[13][14][15] The incident went viral.

Analyst career

In December 2022, Cunningham became a recurring analyst for the Phoenix Suns on their Suns Live! pregame, halftime, and post-game TV coverage.[16][17]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 season
WNBA regular season statistics[18]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2019 Phoenix 32 5 12.2 .354 .304 .882 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.6 3.1
2020 Phoenix 21 11 18.9 .385 .235 .880 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.7 5.0
2021 Phoenix 30 4 17.5 .437 .410 .704 2.0 1.1 0.5 0.2 0.5 5.6
2022 Phoenix 28 20 29.5 .449 .400 .875 4.4 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.0 12.6
2023 Phoenix 31 31 29.0 .413 .337 .875 2.8 2.1 0.6 0.4 1.5 11.3
2024 Phoenix 40 21 27.8 .429 .378 .870 3.9 2.0 1.0 0.3 1.0 8.4
Career 6 years, 1 team 182 92 22.8 .422 .362 .859 2.7 1.4 0.7 0.2 0.9 7.7

Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2019 Phoenix 1 0 8.0 1.000 1.000° .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0
2020 Phoenix 2 0 9.5 .500 .333 — 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 2.5
2021 Phoenix 8 2 17.5 .484 .565 1.000 2.1 0.8 0.3 0.9 0.8 6.4
2022 Phoenix 2 2 31.0 .455 .375 .333 2.5 2.0 0.5 0.0 2.5 7.5
2024 Phoenix 2 2 31.5 .500 .429 — 4.5 3.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 6.5
Career 5 years, 1 team 15 6 19.5 .491 .500 .625 2.2 1.1 0.4 0.5 1.0 5.8

College

NCAA statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2015–16 Missouri 32 32 30.1 .502 .356 .831 5.8 3.0 1.1 0.3 2.4 14.0
2016–17 Missouri 31 31 32.9 .482 .379 .848 5.3 3.4 0.9 0.3 3.4 17.5
2017–18 Missouri 31 31 32.7 .542 .457 .836 4.7 3.0 0.8 0.1 3.0 18.5
2018–19 Missouri 35 35 34.3 .481 .403 .839 5.9 2.8 1.2 0.3 2.9 17.8
Career 129 129 37.5 .501 .403 .839 5.4 3.0 1.0 0.3 2.9 17.0

References

  1. ^ a b "2018-19 Women's Basketball Roster". University of Missouri. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Sophie Cunningham's High School Football Exploits Resurface After Fever-Sun Skirmish".
  3. ^ "Caitlin Clark's Enforcer Sophie Cunningham is a Black Belt Who Used to Bloody Her Own Sister".
  4. ^ "Sophie Cunningham's High School Football Exploits Resurface After Fever-Sun Skirmish".
  5. ^ "Caitlin Clark's Enforcer Sophie Cunningham is a Black Belt Who Used to Bloody Her Own Sister".
  6. ^ Quinanola, Derick (2025-07-17). "Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham had brief high school football career before committing to basketball". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  7. ^ "Sophie Cunningham - Women's Basketball - University of Missouri Athletics". mutigers.com.
  8. ^ "Sophie Cunningham Drafted by the Phoenix Mercury". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. ^ "Cunningham Makes Phoenix Mercury's Opening Night Roster". Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  10. ^ "Sources: Mercury getting Satou Sabally from Wings in 3-team trade". Retrieved Jan 31, 2025.
  11. ^ "Sources: Report: Mercury acquire All-Star Satou Sabally from Wings, trade Sophie Cunningham". Retrieved Jan 31, 2025.
  12. ^ "Transactions". WNBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. February 2, 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025. Sophie Cunningham was traded from the Phoenix Mercury to the Indiana Fever.
  13. ^ "Sophie Cunningham's High School Football Exploits Resurface After Fever-Sun Skirmish".
  14. ^ "Sophie Cunningham Promises to 'Stick up For' Caitlin Clark, New Fever Teammates". 17 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Caitlin Clark's Enforcer Sophie Cunningham is a Black Belt Who Used to Bloody Her Own Sister".
  16. ^ "Phoenix Mercury Guard Sophie Cunningham to Join Suns Broadcast Team as Guest Analyst". NBA.com. December 15, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "See Sophie Cunningham on Suns Live! and on the Court". USA Today. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "Sophie Cunningham WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
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