She, too, has been through adversity.
Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Gets Honest About Nearly Quitting originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Sophie Cunningham’s return to Phoenix on Thursday night was intense. The Indiana Fever star returned to her former stomping ground in PHX Arena to face off against her former team for the first time since her offseason trade.
The Mercury fans gave their former player a warm welcome. Cunningham was met with an ovation by the crowd as the team showed a tribute video that included some of her best highlights from her six seasons in Phoenix.
Cunningham, however, showcased her trademark feistiness during the game. At one point, the 6-foot-1 guard was involved in a heated incident with former Fever teammate DeWanna Bonner. Cunningham had to be held back as she had some words for Bonner and Mercury star Satou Sabally.
In the end, Cunningham and the Fever suffered an embarrassing blowout loss, 95-60.
What Did Sophie Cunningham Reveal About Her Struggle?
The 28-year-old, though, was in a much calmer mood during her postgame press conference, especially after she was faced with an endearing question from a young reporter. When asked if she ever considered quitting when she was younger, Cunningham got honest in her response.
"Great question," she said, smiling. "Yeah, I think when you're growing up, it's really hard. Sometimes you doubt yourself, sometimes you lack confidence.
"But there's always a fire in you. I think the biggest thing (is) that everyone's always going to fail. And I think if you're not trying or if you're not failing, then you're not pushing yourself hard enough."
Cunningham went on to share an inspirational message about pushing through adversity, particularly when the going gets tough.
“And so for me, I think when you put in the work and you're the hardest worker, sometimes it's ugly, right?” she continued. “But you just kind of have to stack the days. And I just think if you keep showing up and you keep working hard, good things are going to happen."
Cunningham would not be where she is today without her work ethic. She’s admitted here that she did, indeed, consider quitting as a kid, but she was able to overcome all the challenges by keeping her eyes locked on the prize.
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Related: "I'm Way Happier": Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Does Not Hold Back After Return to Phoenix
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
