WNBA star Sophie Cunningham turned heads and sent fans into a frenzy with a daring social media post celebrating her alma mater Missouri’s recent basketball triumph. The 28-year-old Phoenix Mercury standout, who just completed her sixth season in the league, posted a striking photo on X (formerly Twitter) following the Missouri Tigers men’s team’s 76-67 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.
Cunningham, a proud Missouri graduate, posed in a navy blue bodysuit adorned with shimmering embellishments and captioned the photo with a playful jab at Kansas: “Now that I have your attention… MIZ-FkU plays Mr. Brightside all day”.
The abbreviated “FkU” was a not-so-subtle dig at Missouri’s longtime rivals, Kansas University, while her reference to Mr. Brightside by The Killers nodded to the celebratory atmosphere at Mizzou Arena, where the song blared throughout the game.
While her cheeky caption captured the spirit of rivalry, it was her outfit that truly stole the show. Fans flooded the comments with admiration, with one writing, “Oh my lord,” and another gushing, “Might be the hottest pic I’ve ever seen. Sophie is the most beautiful player in the WNBA by a mile.” A third simply added, “Gorgeous.” Meanwhile, another user humorously declared, “Gonna leave this pic on my phone so long it gets a screen burn.”
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Social Media Storm Over Controversial Photoshoot
Cunningham’s post comes on the heels of a separate controversy involving the WNBA star. Earlier in the week, she found herself at the center of online backlash following a promotional photoshoot with Phoenix Mercury teammates Kahleah Copper and Natasha Cloud.
The campaign, intended to generate buzz for the 2025 WNBA season, featured the trio in coordinating outfits: black turtleneck sweaters, light-blue jeans, and white socks. However, one particular pose sparked outrage.
The image showed Cunningham sitting on Copper, an African American teammate, as Copper lay on the floor with her legs up. Many fans on social media accused the photo of being racially insensitive, prompting heated discussions online.
Cunningham and her team have not publicly addressed the backlash, but the incident has reignited conversations around representation and awareness in marketing campaigns. Despite the controversy, Cunningham has remained active on social media, continuing to share her vibrant personality and love for the game.
From Court to Controversy
Cunningham has always been a standout both on and off the court. Known for her fiery competitiveness and loyalty to Missouri, she has built a reputation as one of the WNBA’s most passionate players. Her recent posts showcase her connection to her college roots while highlighting the balance between her athletic career and her engaging online persona.
Whether it’s her bold fashion choices or her unapologetic stance on rivalries, Cunningham continues to command attention in the sports world.
While fans remain divided over her recent controversies, her influence and charisma ensure she stays in the spotlight as one of the WNBA’s most talked-about players.
