Sophie Cunningham shares the key lesson the WNBA legend taught her before joining Caitlin Clark

Sophie Cunningham has quietly become one of the most talked-about players in the WNBA. After earning the nickname “executor” and forming a special bond with Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever guard has proven that her rise is no accident.

However, the key to her growth lies not only in her current achievements but also in the experience she gained as a teammate of Diana Taurasi with the Phoenix Mercury.

Sophie Cunningham and the GOAT lesson that prepared her for Caitlin Clark

During six seasons in the WNBA, Sophie Cunningham shared a locker room with the legend and learned far more than just how to make clutch shots or run an offense.

She absorbed Taurasi’s mindset, often compared to Kobe Bryant’s. Sophie recalls: “It was like the next level, multiplied by 100. Just the way they think about the game, always 20 steps ahead.”

Seeing Taurasi and Kobe exchange ideas was like a basketball masterclass, an opportunity that prepared her to shine alongside a superstar like Clark.

From Phoenix to Indiana: lessons that define a teammate

Selected 13th overall in the 2019 draft, Sophie Cunningham went from starting only five games early in her career to playing all 31 games in the 2023 season.

That experience under Taurasi’s mentorship taught her how to handle pressure, media attention, and the responsibility of playing alongside someone who commands all the focus.

For Cunningham, that preparation was essential for adapting to the role she now plays in Indiana. “I think that prepared me to be Caitlin Clark teammate,” she says.

Taurasi’s influence goes beyond teaching game skills. She also showed how to lead, inspire teammates, and manage expectations.

For Sophie Cunningham, this means providing constant support to Clark, absorbing her knowledge, and defending her with the same fierceness she once showed with DT.

Inspiration and legacy: from Taurasi to Clark

Caitlin Clark, who idolized Diana Taurasi as a child, now has Sophie Cunningham as an ally in the locker room.

Sophie has learned to balance her supportive role with on-court execution, replicating the philosophy she experienced with Taurasi: accompany, strengthen, and elevate the team’s superstar.