Sophie Cunningham
ON THE RECORD · 39 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“HAHAHA ‘act like you’ve been there before’….. okay but the last I did this was against my 2 year old niece,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-03
Cunningham responded on social media to critics of her emphatic celebration after a block.
“We had a team meeting Monday — a long meeting — and so hopefully we’ve kind of turned the page,”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-06-02 · reported 2026-10-03
Cunningham told reporters the Fever held a long team meeting to turn the page.
“And I was just kind of pointing, and she is like, ‘Don’t you point at me,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, shouldn’t have said that,’ and I didn’t say a word,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-03
Cunningham described the exchange with Bonner on her podcast, explaining why she kept pointing.
“We’re just too soft right now, and that’s not what our identity is, so we need to get away from that.”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-06-02 · reported 2026-10-03
Cunningham said the Fever were playing too soft and needed to change their identity.
“I’m here to play basketball, but I’m also here to be me,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25
Cunningham said earlier in the season, per ESPN, amid rallies that began following her public support for keeping biological males out of women's sports.
“I’m not gonna shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don’t agree with that.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25
Cunningham said earlier in the season, per ESPN, that she would not hide her views despite disagreement.
“I think I’ll always believe in that. It’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category.”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-07-01 · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham told reporters in July she would always believe in protecting children and little girls in sports.
“They’re sharing a court by a curtain when there’s, like, YMCA youth camps going on one side and a team practicing on the other. Is that not insane? A couple teams don’t even have a weight room.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham described WNBA teams sharing courts separated by curtains and some teams lacking weight rooms.
“I don’t know if there’s voting fatigue,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham questioned the accuracy of WNBA award voting.
“But now, us players, we just have the platform and the eyes, and companies want to be a part of something great and something that is growing.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said players now have the platform and eyes, and companies want to be part of something growing.
“The talent has always, always been there,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said the talent has always been there but now players have the platform and eyes.
“They need to be bold. They need to be confident,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham called for a commissioner who is bold, confident, and can unite a politically divided league.
“I just don’t know how accurate the voting is at times.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham questioned the accuracy of WNBA award voting.
“I said what I said. I think it’s common sense,”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-07-01 · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham stood by her position on protecting biological women's sports after an ESPN profile reported her views.
“I think you kind of hit it when you said the WNBA media pretty much covers everything but basketball,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham agreed with Hanlen that WNBA media members frequently prioritize subjects other than basketball.
“I think it’s very political,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said media attention and award voting can be driven by popularity and politics instead of on-court performance.
“I should not get in trouble for knowing the obvious,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said the effect of Caitlin Clark on the league should be obvious even if other stars contributed to the WNBA's growth.
“History is being made this year.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham called on WNBA reporters to tell positive stories, noting history is being made this year.
“That should be the bare freaking minimum,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said adequate resources for professional players should be the bare minimum.
“We’re not always going to agree, but I think there’s a level of respect that you can have and just being a human, being friendly and nice. I think that’s a really good start.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said the next WNBA commissioner should have respect and be friendly even amid disagreements.
“Stop asking me questions if you don’t want the truth,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham responded to Hanlen's observation that her opinions are often blown up as political statements.
“That doesn’t mean there wasn’t greatness before her.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said Clark's effect should be obvious but that doesn't mean there wasn't greatness before her.
“Now it’s on the WNBA media to actually tell the good stories, to tell the positive stories, to actually talk about basketball and how freaking awesome our league is playing this year,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham called on WNBA reporters to emphasize players' positive stories and achievements.
“get back to basketball”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-01 · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said in August she wanted to get back to basketball during the controversy over transgender participation.
“I think there’s a lot of people who are really, really great who don’t get the credit because maybe they don’t have the popularity or they don’t have the platform.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said some great players don't get credit because they lack popularity or a platform.
“I just felt like there was not a podcast or really any social media out there that gave you real, honest truth about basketball and strictly basketball,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham introduced her new podcast as a place for candid, honest basketball discussions.
“There are teams in the WNBA — which, this is, we are the best league in the entire world — that there are people practicing at, like, YMCAs,”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Cunningham said some WNBA teams lack adequate practice facilities, with players practicing at places like YMCAs.
“It's the start of a new football season. We are hyped. We're excited. We're about to kick some butt this year. Come out, be loud, and show your Mizzou pride.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-04
Sophie Cunningham expressed excitement about the start of college football season and urged fans to show Mizzou pride.
“I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense. And I think I'll always believe in that.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22
Sophie Cunningham defended her public comments about transgender participation in women's sports.
“I have never once said I hated the trans community. Like I said, I think there's space for everyone.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-22
Sophie Cunningham responded when asked if her statements sounded anti-transgender.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Sophie Cunningham · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Cunningham had told ESPN about a month earlier that she wanted to protect young girls in locker rooms and sports from biological men.
“Like I said, I'm just gonna come, have some fun, maybe inspire some young girls to come beat me one day.”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Cunningham made light-hearted comments after the game about inspiring young players.
“We've had so much fun. The crowd was absolutely amazing. I think that’s what sports is all about. You’re going to get boos and you’re going to get cheers.”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Cunningham reflected on the crowd's reaction after the game.
“I want to shout out the Tempo crowd and the city,”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Cunningham thanked the Toronto Tempo crowd after being booed throughout the game.
“The Big Three are going to do their thing every night,”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Cunningham commented on her team's performance after the win over Toronto.
“Yeah, it's intentional. She wasn't even on the team. She has no reason to be doing any of that. So, good way to get her kicked out. I don't even know her. She wasn't even on the team last year when all that was going on. But I do think when people play the Fever, we're nationally televised, there's a lot of eyes on us and people just want attention. And that's her just trying to get attention.”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-08 · reported 2026-08-11
Cunningham said the foul was intentional and accused Carrington of wanting attention because the Fever are nationally televised.
“I wasn't even upset. I mean, I popped up. I'm not going to let anyone just do that to me,”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-08 · reported 2026-08-11
Cunningham said she was not upset and popped up because she would not let anyone do that to her.
“I think everyone knows that. I think that's why she did it because she wants attention. I mean, shit, like, people have started craving attention. Like, go get it somewhere else. Go do something good in the world, I don't know.”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-08 · reported 2026-08-11
Cunningham continued, saying Carrington did it because she wants attention and told her to go do something good in the world.
“Clearly, I think it was unnecessary. I've never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So get your shit off. That's fine. I can take it,”
Sophie Cunningham · said 2026-08-08 · reported 2026-08-11
Cunningham said after Saturday's game that the foul was unnecessary and that Carrington was just trying to get attention.