Away days always make it tough against players one way or another. And having a positive attitude, like Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham, more often get the results done on the road. While these affairs are always the challenging ones, Cunningham did have this to say:
“I would say New York is always a fun one,” Sophie Cunningham said. “I don’t know if it’s like a hard place to play, but like it’s always packed and it’s a lot of fun.” Barclays Center has developed a reputation for being one of the liveliest stops in the league, with Liberty fans filling the seats every night.
Of course, there will be certain places where even if the atmosphere feels good for fans, as players, you’d feel the amount of pressure being mounted on your backs. And she’s got a special mention, “Honestly, Minnesota. I hate playing up in Minnesota,” she admitted.
The home and away format adds not just a simple means for each team to earn revenue, but it also showcases how home support can make a big difference in the mindset of the home team and the visiting team alike. The playoffs, making this affair even more feisty because of the fans’ involvement, are a wonderful fixture in the sport.
For Sophie Cunningham, these battles on the road add to the fun, even if they make the climb to victory much steeper.
Sophie Cunningham on Diana Taurasi: “One of the Biggest Hearts”
On occasion, we’ve heard Sophie Cunningham say things of praise to her former teammate, Diana Taurasi. And we can understand where the sense of respect is coming from.
“I like her energy and her aura is just so strong and intense,” Sophie Cunningham said. “I’ve gotten to know her for the past seven years and we are good friends. … She’s so intense, … I think she does that because she has one of the biggest hearts.”
It’s always a daunting task stepping up from your college ball to the big leagues. And when the nerves start getting in, that’s where your big sisters come in. Sophie Cunningham had been under Taurasi’s wing ,and Sophie’s exposure to elite play is what allowed her to take note and take over.
Of course, nothing is ever easy and you can’t expect to be fed in this big dog eats small dog world. And that firm mentorship allowed Sophie Cunningham to get up to speed and understand what it takes to be one of the strongest.
By showing that intensity can come from compassion, Taurasi left a mark on Sophie Cunningham that goes far beyond the court.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
