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Sophie Cunningham is one of the most popular active WNBA players today, so much so that even some people who rarely watch women’s basketball have heard of her. Off the court, she hosts a podcast, appears as a recurring analyst for an NBA pregame show and has been a UFC ring girl. But how great is the Enforcer as a basketball player? Learn what Sophie Cunningham’s stats say about her game.
Who Is Sophie Cunningham?
Born in Columbia, Missouri, Cunningham plays for the Indiana Fever, wears No. 8 and has been with the team since 2025. She’s often a key reserve and has been a strong contender for the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award. Selected 13th overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft, she played for the Phoenix Mercury from 2019 to 2024.
Sophie Cunningham is 6 feet, 1 inch tall, about the size of an average WNBA player. She can score, and her willingness to absorb contact gives her more flexibility on offense than her numbers suggest.
Cunningham has built a professional career around shooting, physicality and competitive edge. Her official position is shooting guard, but her speed and toughness allow her to play as a small forward, a position that demands a balanced skill set on offense and defense.
NCAA — Missouri Tigers
Cunningham arrived at Missouri as a highly regarded recruit and immediately became one of the team’s most important players. She averaged 14 points as a freshman, then increased her season stats to 17.5, 18.5 and 17.8 points over her final three seasons.
Her senior season demonstrated the shooting ability that would eventually become central to her professional game. She shot 40.3% from three that year and finished her Missouri career as a 40.3% three-point shooter overall. She also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 3 assists during her four-year college career.
Cunningham’s college career wasn’t as legendary as that of her teammate, Caitlin Clark, who was the first player in the NCAA to be the season’s leader in points and assists. Still, Sophie has a stellar resume, which includes All-SEC recognition and All-American honors.
She left Missouri as the program’s career leader in scoring and free throws made. On top of being a volume scorer, Sophie was a physical wing who could create offense, shoot from distance and take on difficult assignments.
That combination helped make her a second-round selection in 2019, despite playing in a draft class loaded with future WNBA stars.
WNBA — Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever
Sophie Cunningham’s professional development was gradual. She played limited minutes as a sookie, and her role expanded as her shooting and confidence developed.
The 2022 season remains the clearest statistical illustration of Cunningham’s offensive ceiling. She averaged double figures in scoring with efficient shooting from beyond the arc. Sophie also made at least two three-pointers in 17 consecutive games, a WNBA record at the time.
After the 2024 season, Cunningham and the Mercury agreed to an amicable trade, sending her to the Indiana Fever through a four-team deal. This move has placed her in the same roster as megastar Caitlin Clark, whose arrival has drawn significantly higher ratings, giving the multiyear veteran more media exposure.
A torn right MCL limited Sophie’s first season with Indiana to 30 games, though. Her absence contributed to the Fever’s elimination from playoff contention. In 2026, Cunningham re-signed with Indiana. On a June 22 game, Sophie gifted the world the “pointing” meme while playing against her former team.
The viral moment happened after Clark was called for a technical foul, following an altercation with DeWanna Bonner — the kind of treatment the sophomore has received since her rookie year. Sophie Cunningham pointed at Bonner while asking the referees why only her teammate received the penalty. Bonner made the same gesture, but Cunningham continued pointing while walking around the court without breaking eye contact.
Sophie Cunningham’s WNBA Regular Season Stats
According to Basketball Reference, here’s a glance at Cunningham’s WNBA per-game numbers as a member of the Phoenix Mercury:
| Stats | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Games played | 32 | 21 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 40 |
| MPG | 12.2 | 18.9 | 17.5 | 29.5 | 29 | 27.7 |
| PPG | 3.1 | 5 | 5.6 | 12.6 | 11.3 | 8.4 |
| RPG | 1.4 | 1 | 2 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 3.9 |
| APG | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2 |
| SPG | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 |
| BPG | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| FG% | 35.4% | 38.5% | 43.7% | 44.9% | 41.3% | 42.9% |
| FT% | 88.2% | 88% | 70.4% | 87.5% | 87.5% | 87% |
| 3P% | 30.4% | 23.5% | 41% | 40% | 33.7% | 37.8% |
| TO | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 |
Here’s Sophie Cunningham’s statistics with the Indiana Fever:
| Averages | 2025 |
| Games played | 30 |
| MPG | 25.2 |
| PPG | 8.6 |
| RPG | 3.5 |
| APG | 1.2 |
| SPG | 1 |
| BPG | 0.1 |
| FG% | 46.9% |
| FT% | 87.5% |
| 3P% | 43.2% |
| TO | 1.1 |
Sophie Cunningham’s WNBA Playoff Statistics
Here’s how Cunningham performed in the postseason:
| Stats | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
| Games played | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| MPG | 8 | 9.5 | 17.5 | 31 | 31.5 |
| PPG | 3 | 2.5 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| RPG | 0 | 1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| APG | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | 2 | 3.5 |
| SPG | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| BPG | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0.5 |
| FG% | 100% | 50% | 48.4% | 45.5% | 50% |
| FT% | 0% | – | 100% | 33.3% | – |
| 3P% | 100% | 33.3% | 56.5% | 37.5% | 42.9% |
| TO | 0 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 |
Overseas Leagues
Sophie Cunningham played in Australia’s WNBL, signing with the Melbourne Boomers during the 2019-20 WNBA offseason.
After her team lost the WNBA Finals to the Chicago Sky 3-games-to-1, she flew to France to suit up for Basket Landes for nine games, appearing five times in the Championship and four in the EuroLeague Women.
Moreover, Cunningham has committed to play for Project B, a series of traveling tournaments held over seven weeks planned for late 2026, featuring six teams of 11 players.
So, Is the Enforcer a Good WNBA Player?
Sophie Cunningham’s season stats don’t make her MVP material, but she’s more than just a podcaster and a TV personality. She’s an effective role player with a neat combination of shooting, versatility, fortitude and willingness to do the dirty work. The market values her highly, and Sophie will likely continue to receive multiyear offers from suitors whenever her contract expires.
Could a return with the Phoenix Mercury be on the horizon? Or will she remain teammates with Caitlin Clark on the Indiana Fever?
