The basketball world saw Sophie Cunningham's toughness on Tuesday night when she practically tackled Jacy Sheldon in retaliation and defense of Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark.
That toughness, though, started a long time ago.
You can go all the way back to when Cunningham was 6 years old and earned a black belt in in taekwondo.
Sophie!
— Sophie Cunningham Fan Club (@SophieC_FanClub) June 18, 2025
Taekwondo Black Belt, at 6 years old.
Always been that GIRL, always will be… pic.twitter.com/hMXRo38u3U
And then in high school, Cunningham kicked for her football team as an injury replacement.
Just when you think you know Sophie…
— Sophie Cunningham Fan Club (@SophieC_FanClub) June 18, 2025
She keeps amazing you!! pic.twitter.com/oogHLy2hZ7
A hard foul on a fastbreak? No big deal for Cunningham.
She seems like a great addition to the Fever this season, both in the friendships she's formed with her new teammates and in the way she stands up for them on the court.
Don't mess with Soph, that's for sure.
MORE: Sophie Cunningham proves herself as the perfect teammate