Sophie Cunningham didn’t hesitate when asked to name her basketball GOAT. For her, it’s Diana Taurasi — and in her eyes, the Phoenix Mercury legend could still hang with today’s stars.
Currently sidelined with an MCL injury, Cunningham has been spending her time supporting the Indiana Fever from the bench and hopping on podcasts. On The Old Man and The Three, she was quick to shout out her former teammate when the question came up.
“She can 1000% still play,” Cunningham said. “When she’s on, she’s on. She is still so damn good. I think that’s what’s hard for her, cause she knows she could still be out here. S**t what if she came out of retirement?”
Sophie Cunningham added that Taurasi’s presence alone set the standard for greatness. “Showing these younger bucks what it takes to win a championship, what it takes to become the GOAT. I have heard things and seen things that she does that I’m just like, wow. And I don’t get starstruck.”
Taurasi’s career left little room for debate. From being drafted No. 1 in 2004 to retiring earlier this year at 42, she became the face of Phoenix basketball for two decades. Her resume includes three WNBA titles, 11 All-Star nods, a league MVP, 14 All-WNBA selections, plus Olympic gold, an NCAA crown, and a FIBA World Cup trophy.
“She’s so intense”: Sophie Cunningham on playing with Taurasi
Sophie Cunningham got a first-hand view of Taurasi’s fire. Drafted by the Mercury in 2019, she spent five seasons learning from the veteran. Kobe Bryant himself dubbed her the “White Mamba” for her grit and edge — traits she sharpened alongside Taurasi.
“Her energy and her aura is just so strong and intense, but I’ve gotten to know her for the past seven years. We are good friends now. She’s so intense, but I think she does that because she has one of the biggest hearts and feels everything,” Cunningham said.
Now with the Fever, Cunningham has built her own reputation as a fearless competitor and Caitlin Clark’s on-court enforcer. Even after her injury cut the season short, she’s remained visible — celebrating the Fever’s playoff run in person or reacting to big moments online.
For more sports content:
Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for your NBA and college basketball reading fix. You can reach out to Dan Agulto through email at papadanph@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
