Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham isn’t letting the WNBA offseason stop her from turning heads—this time, though, it’s less about her three-point percentage and more about her denim game. Known as much for her fearless on-court attitude as her daring fashion choices, Cunningham took to Instagram to show off a new look that screams, “Saddle up!” rather than “Suit up!”
Trading in her signature pregame outfits, Cunningham stepped out in an all-denim ensemble topped off with a cowgirl hat, because who doesn’t want a little Western flair when they’re off the court? Clearly, her fans are here for it, as the post racked up over 19,000 likes in no time. Apparently, it only takes a horse and a hat to turn a WNBA star into a rodeo queen.
“Happiest with my horse,” she captioned the post, and honestly, who wouldn’t be? Who needs basketballs when you’ve got saddles and spurs? The comment section exploded, with many followers suggesting she could moonlight in a Western film, though one can’t help but wonder if there’s a secret audition for Yellowstone in her future.
But before we get carried away imagining Sophie roping cattle or chasing tumbleweeds, let’s not forget her actual day job—basketball. While she’s busy posing as a cowgirl, she’s also preparing for her return to the Phoenix Mercury for another season. Last season, she averaged 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting a respectable 37.8% from beyond the arc. Not too shabby for someone who can apparently switch from court hero to Western icon with a quick change of clothes.
In an interview with The Spun, Cunningham reflected on her journey as a 6-foot-1, 165-pound professional athlete, stating that embracing her size and strength hasn’t always been easy. “I think it’s cool I’m a professional athlete,” she said, “but it hasn’t always been easy being this big or this strong or taller than all the boys.” Well, Sophie, I think we can all agree the boys are missing out because, clearly, being tall and strong just means you get to be a badass on and off the court.
As spring nears and the WNBA season approaches, fans can expect more game-day style moments and, hopefully, some high-scoring games to match. In the meantime, we’re all here for Cowgirl Sophie. If the basketball thing doesn’t work out, at least she’s got a future in rodeo—or, at the very least, fashion.
So while Sophie wrangles likes on Instagram, we can only hope she’s wrangling up some wins for the Mercury next season. But hey, if she shows up to a game on horseback, is anyone really going to complain?
