16-05-2025
Former Mizzou Standout Sophie Cunningham Set to Open WNBA Season with Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark
For the first time in her seven-year career, former Mizzou Star Sophie Cunningham will be representing a new team when the WNBA season tips off this weekend.
Cunningham, who was dealt from the Phoenix Mercury in February as part of a four-team trade, is expected to suit up alongside Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Saturday afternoon when they host Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.
"and just like that, training camp is complete. come on year 7!," Cunningham posted to her instagram account on Thursday. To which her new teammate Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, replied "Let's get to ittttt."
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Fever second-year head coach Stephanie White said during Thursday's shoot around that Cunningham is "day-to-day," after suffering an ankle injury in the preseason. But the 28-year-old guard was quick to dismiss, saying she's ready to play.
Cunningham, and former Dallas Wings guard Jaelyn Brown - also acquired in the four-team trade - are among several new additions to the Fever roster this season.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) hugs Indiana Fever teammate Caitlin Clark (22).Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The team added former WNBA All-Stars DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, two-time WNBA champion Sydney Colson, and Brianna Turner all in free agency. Rookie Makayla Timpson, the 19th-overall pick out of Florida State, also made the 11-player opening day roster.
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In their WNBA Season Preview released on Thursday, ESPN ranked the Fever as the fourth-best team in the league. Issuing a bold, yet realistic, prediction, André Snellings wrote: "The Fever, who were fifth in 3-pointers per game (9.2) last season, could be first this year with Cunningham and Bonner joining sharpshooters Clark and [Kelsey] Mitchell."
Cunningham, who was announced as the first member of the 2025 Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame Class last month, is the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,187 career points.
Across her first six seasons in the WNBA, she has totaled 1,409 career points.
Saturday she'll look to score her first points for the Fever.
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Related: Local Legend Named to Mizzou Athletics 2025 Hall of Fame Class
Related: Kellie Harper Announced as Mizzou Women's Basketball Head Coach
