Sophie Cunningham has never shied away from the spotlight or the smoke. Known for her fierce competitiveness, unapologetic toughness, and recently her self-assigned role as Caitlin Clark’s on-court protector, Cunningham has steadily grown into one of the WNBA’s most compelling and polarizing figures. But while headlines often focus on her physicality or outspoken nature, something monumental happened that proves she’s more than the enforcer label people have tried to pin on her. Sophie Cunningham has reached a career milestone that cements her legacy not just as a bruiser, but as a baller in every sense of the word.
The achievement? Sophie Cunningham has officially surpassed 2,000 career points in the WNBA. For some, that may not seem like a flashy number. But for anyone who’s followed her path—from Missouri standout to Phoenix Mercury star, to now one of the most impactful veterans in the league—it’s a powerful statement. This milestone is not just a number; it’s the culmination of years of resilience, hard work, and proving doubters wrong time and time again.
Drafted 13th overall in 2019 by the Phoenix Mercury, Cunningham entered the league with the reputation of a gritty scorer and hard-nosed competitor. At Missouri, she was the school’s all-time leading scorer, but many wondered whether her game would translate to the professional level. Would she be fast enough? Was her defense elite enough? Did she have the skillset to carve out a meaningful role in a league filled with world-class talent?
The answer didn’t come overnight. Her early seasons were marked by inconsistency and limited minutes. But those who paid attention could see something simmering beneath the surface. Every time she stepped onto the court, she brought fire, fearlessness, and the kind of energy that could shift the tone of a game. Coaches loved her hustle, her teammates respected her toughness, and fans—well, they either loved or hated her, which in professional sports means you’re doing something right.
But 2024 brought a new kind of visibility for Cunningham. When Caitlin Clark joined the league, the WNBA saw a seismic surge in media attention, viewership, and pressure. The rookie phenom quickly became the league’s most watched and most fouled player. Game after game, Clark took hard hits and shoulder checks, often with little protection from referees or her teammates. That’s when Sophie Cunningham stepped in.
While Cunningham and Clark weren’t teammates in the traditional sense, Cunningham made it clear through interviews and her physical play that she wasn’t going to watch the league’s brightest new star get bullied night after night. “I had to wreck a chick because the WNBA hasn’t been willing to protect Caitlin for two years,” Cunningham said, unapologetically, during a post-game interview that immediately went viral. The clip spread like wildfire across social media platforms, turning Cunningham into both a hero and a villain, depending on which side of the fence you stood.
To many, she became Caitlin Clark’s unofficial “bodyguard”—a nickname she seemed to embrace with pride. But while that role put her back in the national spotlight, it also threatened to overshadow the very real growth she’s shown as a basketball player. Because while she was out there delivering hard screens and refusing to back down from conflict, she was also quietly averaging career-high numbers in points, shooting percentage, and minutes played.
Surpassing 2,000 points might seem like a blip in a season filled with more sensational headlines, but it matters. It means consistency. It means durability. It means production over multiple seasons, despite the constant criticism, physical wear-and-tear, and emotional pressure that comes with being both a leader and a lightning rod.
And she’s done it her way. Sophie Cunningham is not your cookie-cutter WNBA star. She’s brash. She’s emotional. She’s raw. She talks trash, gets under people’s skin, and doesn’t care if you like her or not. But she’s also loyal, dedicated, and fiercely passionate about the game. She mentors younger players, works on her game year-round, and has become a reliable threat from beyond the arc. Her versatility allows her to guard multiple positions and adapt to various game plans. Her presence on the floor isn’t just felt—it’s known.
This milestone is also a win for players who don’t always get the glitz and glamor. Not everyone can be a No. 1 draft pick or a nightly highlight machine. The league is built just as much on its glue players, its grinders, its emotional anchors—those who set screens, dive for loose balls, and say the hard things in the locker room. Cunningham has become one of those players, and the 2,000-point mark is validation that her contributions go far beyond the scuffles and headlines.
What’s even more impressive is the context in which she’s achieved it. The WNBA is at its most competitive point in history. The influx of young talent has raised the bar. Roster spots are harder to earn, minutes are harder to come by, and only the most adaptable survive. Cunningham has not only survived—she’s thrived. She’s transformed from a bench spark plug into a starting-caliber forward who can swing the momentum of a game with a single play. Whether it’s a clutch three-pointer, a defensive stop, or a timely confrontation that ignites her team, she always finds a way to make her presence felt.
Sophie’s milestone also comes at a time when the WNBA is being asked to reckon with issues of player safety, media bias, and how it treats its rookies. Her outspokenness about the lack of protection for Caitlin Clark was more than just a quote—it was a call to action. It forced media members, fans, and league officials to consider how much physicality is too much and whether enough is being done to protect young stars from targeted aggression.
In a league that has historically struggled to balance competitiveness with respect, Cunningham’s voice has been both controversial and necessary. She doesn’t play politics—she plays the game, and she speaks her mind. And as much as that rubs some the wrong way, it also makes her an essential part of the WNBA’s evolution.
The 2,000-point mark is far from the end for Sophie Cunningham. It’s just the latest chapter in a career that continues to defy easy categorization. She’s not just Caitlin Clark’s “bodyguard.” She’s a leader, a warrior, and now, officially, a 2,000-point scorer. That number might not break records, but it breaks stereotypes.
For every player out there who’s been told they’re too slow, too emotional, too physical, or too controversial to make it, Cunningham’s milestone is proof that there’s more than one way to be great. You don’t have to fit the mold—you just have to leave your mark. And Sophie Cunningham, without a doubt, has left hers.
As she walked off the court after her historic night, fists clenched, heart pounding, sweat dripping—there was no dramatic speech, no tearful press conference. Just a nod to the crowd, a pat on the back from teammates, and a reminder to anyone still doubting her: this bodyguard can ball.
