Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham described the moment she learned about her Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame induction as a deeply emotional one. The WNBA veteran, known for her toughness, said the news came during a surprise video call with her former college’s new coach, Kellie Harper.

Cunningham admitted she “shed tears” after hearing the announcement, a milestone connecting her storied university career with her ongoing success in professional basketball.

Why Did the Hall of Fame News Mean So Much to Sophie Cunningham?

Sophie Cunningham, a Columbia native and former Missouri Tigers star, recently reflected on her induction into the Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame. The Indiana Fever guard admitted the honor caught her completely off guard.

“I didn’t know Kelly was going to be on the call,” Cunningham said, recalling the moment Missouri head coach Kellie Harper delivered the news.

“I actually canceled it, and was like, ‘I’m flying to California, I’m on vacation.’ But when I finally got on, they told me, and I don’t really tear up very often. Maybe if I get injured and tear my MCL, I will. But when they did that, once I got off the phone, I called my family, and just the emotions rushed over me of just feeling so grateful.”

Her gratitude, however, extended far beyond just a personal achievement.

“It’s not just me. It was the community of people that got me here,” she explained. Cunningham noted her deep ties to the program, having grown up just minutes from the campus.

“I bleed black and gold to the core. Our whole family does. It’s part of the reason why I committed here out of the eighth grade. I didn’t care who offered me what, any of that type of noise. I knew I wanted to come here. I wanted to put Mizzou women’s basketball on the map.”

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Cunningham certainly left her mark at Missouri from 2015 to 2019, becoming a four-time All-SEC selection, including three first-team honors. Calling her Hall of Fame recognition a “team award,” Cunningham emphasized the crucial role her teammates and coaches played.

“I wouldn’t be here without my teammates,” she said. “I feel blessed for the platform, blessed for the teams that I got to play here with.”

Her successful college career led to a seamless transition to the WNBA in 2019, when the Phoenix Mercury drafted her 13th overall. Over six seasons, she averaged 7.7 points and 1.4 assists per game before being traded this year to the Indiana Fever.

Although a torn MCL in August ended her 2025 season prematurely, she views the Hall of Fame induction as a powerful and timely reminder of her journey and the foundation she built at Missouri.