When fans started to learn that a certain Sophie Cunningham was a player they should know about, they dug into her past and figured out that the guard has been sassy and competitive in everything she has stumbled upon.
Her competitive fire made her more important to WNBA franchises from the famed Missouri Tigers women’s basketball teams of the late 2010s, which featured two of NBA star Michael Porter Jr.‘s sisters.
In fact, the 30-year-old is still the highest draft pick from the program. But one of the things that stood out from her time there was when she punted for the Tigers football team.
It may have been a meaningless game. But Cunningham drilling the field goal left many surprised. She wore full pads and did not look unfazed among the men standing beside her.
Her abilities with her feet have remained in the minds of her admirers, and she was even asked to demonstrate a field goal kick when she returned to a NASCAR race. However, fans quickly came to realize that she had another talent when it came to football.
Call me Patrick Mahomes from here on out.
Sophie Cunningham wrote on X
Call me Patrick Mahomes from here on out.
This was her post after launching a signed ball to the second level at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after the Indiana Fever wrapped up their win over the Minnesota Lynx. The video has gone viral as it shows Sophie Cunningham’s arm strength, something that fans are not accustomed to seeing from female athletes.
Sophie Cunningham is not the first female athlete to launch merchandise that far away. Videos of Phoenix Mercury star Kelsey Plum sending it to the first level are still popular on social media.
However, after the Indiana Fever star decided to bring out her jokes and compare herself to Patrick Mahomes, fans couldn’t help but join in. They replied to her X post with suggestions on who she could be.
Some suggested she could instantly play for a team struggling without a quarterback. Her teammate, Caitlin Clark, has received some similar suggestions in the past. But others also brought up comparisons to other NFL players. Examples of those hilarious replies are listed below.
Sophie Cunningham is great at fan engagement and a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan. She was sad to learn that they will move out of , but comparing herself to Patrick Mahomes was an indication that she will remain a fan forever.
All season long, Sophie Cunningham has been a revelation off the bench for the Indiana Fever this season. Her performances so far have led the team to hype her for the Sixth Player of the Year award.
However, in their , the shooting guard registered an embarrassing zero points from the seven minutes she played. That drew some criticism, as fans felt she was losing focus with off-court endeavours taking up her time.
I could’ve had an attitude. Some would’ve after the Washington game. But no, I had to get to work. I had to look myself in the mirror. What can I do better?
James Boyd quoted Sophie Cunningham
This was after she rebounded with 11 points in 29 minutes off the bench against the Minnesota Lynx. With that performance, she also amassed 2000 career points in the WNBA. With the Fever about to enter the postseason, they will need their best bench player to consistently perform in this manner.