Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2025
- Class:
- 2019
A Columbia native with deep Mizzou roots, Sophie Cunningham entered the University of Missouri as a hometown legend, having led Rock Bridge High School to four straight state basketball championships. The daughter of two former Mizzou athletes and sister of Tiger teammate Lindsey Cunningham, Sophie wasted no time making her mark, scoring a school-record 42 points in her collegiate debut against Wake Forest. She went on to rewrite the program’s record book, finishing as Mizzou’s all-time leading scorer with 2,187 career points, while also setting the career free throws made record (537) and ranking second in career 3-point field goals (590) and fourth in scoring average (17.0 points per game). Renowned for her fierce competitiveness and leadership, Cunningham helped guide the Tigers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the second round in 2016, 2017 and 2019. She was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2016, became a three-time All-SEC First Team selection and earned a spot on the AP and USBWA Third-Team All-America squads in 2019 — the first All-America honor in program history. Cunningham was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in 2019, playing six seasons in the WNBA before being traded to the Indiana Fever in 2025. She has also competed professionally in Australia and France and expanded her impact beyond the court by co-founding the Sophie Cunningham Classic with sister Lindsey and coaching legend Norm Stewart, an annual showcase promoting girls basketball in Missouri. In addition, she has worked in broadcasting as a television analyst for the Phoenix Suns and has launched her own podcast.
