Sophie Cunningham
A fiery guard who brings relentless hustle and Missouri-made toughness to the WNBA, becoming a fan favorite for her fearless style of play.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American basketball player and analyst·Birthday: August 16·Millennials
Biography
Sophie Cunningham plays basketball with a signature edge. Hailing from Columbia, Missouri, she stayed home to become a program-defining star for the Missouri Tigers, leaving as the school's all-time leading scorer. Her game was never subtle; built on aggressive drives, physical defense, and a shooter's confidence that borders on audacity. This combative style made her a polarizing figure in college but perfectly translated to the professional grind of the WNBA. Drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, she carved out a role not through finesse but through pure will, earning minutes with defensive intensity and a willingness to take—and make—big shots. Traded to the Indiana Fever, she brought that same veteran grit to a young team, often serving as an emotional catalyst on the floor. Cunningham’s impact is measured in drawn charges, contested threes, and a palpable energy that forces both opponents and audiences to pay attention.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sophie was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sophie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Sophie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the University of Missouri's all-time leading scorer in women's basketball with over 2,100 points.
- Selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
- Helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA Finals in 2021.
- Set a career-high in the WNBA by scoring 36 points for the Indiana Fever in 2024.
Did You Know?
She comes from a deeply athletic family; her sister, Lindsey, played basketball at Missouri State, and her brother, Zach, played in the NFL.
Cunningham is an avid hunter and fisher, often sharing outdoor adventures on social media.
In college, she famously got a technical foul for waving goodbye to an opposing player she had just fouled out.
She worked as a basketball analyst for the SEC Network while still an active WNBA player.
“I play with a chip on my shoulder. That’s just who I am.”
