Sophie Cunningham admitted she could \u201ctalk to a wall for eight hours\u201d and be content. That\u2019s one of the reasons she has interest in commentating roles.<\/p>\n
The WNBA star is not retiring any time soon, but she may have already locked in her retirement job. She previously worked as a Suns broadcaster on the NBA side, and she\u2019s worked in other broadcast roles across basketball. Now, she will shine as a commentator for Quest Nutrition\u2019s social media series Grand Try, in which stars from the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Team USA rugby teams will compete in viral games, premiering this month.<\/p>\n
Even though Cunningham knew virtually nothing about rugby when signing on for the gig, it was a challenge she was excited about. The opportunity helped her grow her craft in the broadcast booth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of the cooler things I\u2019ve done this offseason,\u201d Cunningham told Sports Illustrated. \u201c[The rugby players] got competitive. I was talking smack commentating. I was hyping them up when they did well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cunningham is hopeful this experience will allow her to take on more sports commentator roles in the future, even though basketball is understandably her main focus. She noted an interest in exploring soccer (she played all the way up until college), baseball, football and even more rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love sports. I love talking to people and learning their stories. I love the \u2018why,\u2019\u201d Cunningham says. \u201cWhen I get asked to [commentate] for basketball, I know the game, I have the IQ for it. I see plays, I see why they do different schemes. You get to break down these elite level players and why they do what they do. I find it so fascinating, and I understand it. And, for some reason, people like to hear me break it down.\u201d<\/p>\n