Sophie Cunningham Opens Up About WNBA's Rookie Class, Pregame Fashion
09/06/2024 01:25 PM
There aren't many players in the WNBA making as much noise on and off the hardwood as Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham.
On the court, Cunningham is averaging 8.1 points per game on 36.8 percent shooting from downtown. Off it, she's turning heads with her epic pregame outfits.
With the WNBA playoffs around the corner, Cunningham and the Mercury will have a chance to piece everything together and go on a run.
We caught up with Sophie Cunningham to discuss her season with the Mercury, her partnership with Quest Nutrition and much more.
The Spun: Can you tell us about your partnership with Quest Nutrition and how it has played a role in your day-to-day?
Sophie Cunningham: I'm not shy about what I'm about. I'm 6-foot-1, I'm 165 pounds and I think it's cool I'm a professional athlete. But it hasn't always been easy being this big or this strong or taller than all the boys. For me, it came natural, to be honest. I wanted a brand that empowered women while featuring a healthy lifestyle with delicious food. Quest was all about that. It's a very genuine relationship. A lot of people think of protein bars when they hear Quest, but it really is a lifestyle. I think your food should support your goals, not hinder them. With how crazy our schedule is and how much we travel, this partnership just made so much sense.
The Spun: I know they have some sweet options, so what's the the go-to snack from Quest?
Sophie Cunningham: The new Bake Shop line has been killing me because it's so good that I'm probably eating too much of it. My go-to is Quest Iced Coffee. It has high protein and is so delicious. The chocolate chip muffins are also so good. My teammates have been trying them out. After my workouts with the Mercury though, I usually go with a Quest Protein Shake.
The Spun: Your pregame outfits have gone viral multiple times this season. For example, you wore a Kobe Bryant hoodie this week. What's the thought process before you pick each look?
Sophie Cunningham: To be honest, it's whatever I feel that day. You brought up my Kobe outfit. I'm actually going to be sporting a Quest outfit that I hope turns some heads and shows what Quest is all about. People were obsessed with the Kobe hoodie. I'm really excited for my next outfit. It's feisty, it's sassy and it's different than what I've worn.
The Spun: I would say this season has had a lot of ups and downs so far for the Mercury. In order to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning the Finals, what needs to change?
Sophie Cunningham: Looking at us compared to other teams, those teams that are killing it right now have played together for 2-3 years. They've built that chemistry and rhythm, they know how each other play. We've had 33 games together. That may sound like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not when you have so many new players. I agree with you though. When we're clicking and we're on, we're hard to beat. But on the other hand, we've had moments where we've looked really bad. It's all about having veterans and experience in the playoffs because that's a totally different type of season. When our backs are against the wall, you'll see our true colors. I'm excited we clinched a playoff spot. Moving forward though, we need to be consistent and keep improving our chemistry.
The Spun: There's been a lot of controversy surrounding WNBA officiating this year, specifically technical fouls. How do you find that balance between letting out your frustration with avoiding any consequences?
Sophie Cunningham: Are you going to get me fined? With the team we have, we got a lot of fiery people, and that's not a bad thing. I think the officiating has been rough this year not only for us, but for our league. With the amount of eyes on our game, we may need to improve that area. Maybe we get new ones or hold them to another standard that they haven't been held to before. I do think our team has had bad body language. We set the record for most technical fouls in a season and it's not even over yet. I do think if you have mutual respect between the player and official, you can get things figured out.
The Spun: There's a lot of debate on social media regarding this WNBA season. Do you see all that debate as a good or bad thing?
Sophie Cunningham: I think as a player you're so focused on where your two feet are at. You're not really thinking about all that. You do hear about it, but you don't talk about it all the time. I think any media or attention the WNBA gets is a pro. Why would it not be? If you don't think it is, you got to check yourself a little bit because it gets people talking. This rookie class has brought a lot of fans to the WNBA. They might be a little uneducated about our league. The talent has always been there, but now we have the viewership. We got to show the people watching our game some grace.
The Spun: You've been pretty active on TikTok, posting some funny videos from time to time. How do you decide what gets shared on social media?
Sophie Cunningham: I appreciate that. I grew up in a fun, loving, lighthearted family. We don't take things too seriously. I use TikTok as a spur of the moment type of app. I think social media can be really good and really bad. It all depends on where you put your time in. When it comes to my TikTok, I just want to make people smile.
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