Sophie Cunningham Baptism Shows Faith Amid WNBA Season

Sophie Cunningham, the Missouri basketball standout whose grit has made her a fan favorite with the Indiana Fever, has marked a new season with an old Christian practice: baptism.

Cunningham, 29, shared video of her baptism at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona, saying she had been baptized as a child but wanted to make a public confession of faith as an adult.

“I got baptized when I was little, but I was feeling a tug on my heart to do it on my terms as an adult,” Cunningham wrote on TikTok. “Such a fun, amazing day. Thank you, Jesus.”

The moment came during a season in which Cunningham has become known not only for her outside shooting but also for standing up for teammates. A viral 22-second clip from a June 22 game showed her silently pointing at Phoenix Mercury player DeWanna Bonner after a heated exchange involving Caitlin Clark. It was a bold moment, and fans quickly turned it into a meme. But it also fit the way many Fever fans have come to see Cunningham: loyal, protective and unafraid to take heat.

Cunningham has said Clark is being targeted and not protected enough by officials, a concern also raised by Fever coach Stephanie White after Clark took hard contact in a recent game. The issue has grown beyond one team. Phoenix guard Alyssa Thomas, who was suspended after making contact with Clark’s throat, said she later received threats and online abuse. The WNBA said it “vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate” and called player safety a priority.

Cunningham grew up in Columbia, played at Rock Bridge High School and became one of the most decorated players in Missouri women’s basketball history. At Mizzou, she finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer and free-throw leader. She also was SEC Freshman of the Year, a three-time All-SEC First Team selection and a 2019 third-team All-American.

Speaking with reporters after the baptism, Cunningham said the decision felt personal.

“I’ve always been a faithful person, but I just feel like now it’s my own decision,” she said. “One of the better things I’ve done in my life is getting baptized.”

–Alan Goforth