In a weekend that could only be described as “Yeehaw meets WNBA glam,” Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham saddled up for a cowboy-themed bash in Las Vegas, rubbing shoulders with the “world’s best bull riders” and igniting her inner Missouri tiger spirit against an old college nemesis.
Cunningham, known for her fiery court presence and off-court charisma, turned heads at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday. She strutted into the party donning a black cowboy hat, a sleek black jacket paired with a semi-transparent blouse (cue applause for confidence), jean shorts, and black boots. In true Sophie fashion, she kept her Instagram followers hooked, posting snapshots of the night on her stories.
Cowgirl Sophie and Her Rodeo Royalty Posse
Her first IG story was a silent teaser—a photo of her impeccable outfit tagged with the location. Subtle flex. But the second snap packed a punch as she posed with none other than rodeo icons Stetson Wright and JB Mauney.
Let’s pause for a quick rodeo resume recap. Wright? The guy has eight Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Championships under his belt. All-around, bull riding, saddle bronc—you name it, he’s mastered it. And Mauney? He’s a two-time Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion, with victories in 2013 and 2015. Basically, these dudes are the LeBron and Steph Curry of the rodeo world.
Cunningham, flanked by these titans, captioned the photo with “World’s best bull riders in history.” No lies detected.
From Yeehaw to WNBA Howdy
The night of rodeo revelry was a perfect bookend to Cunningham’s sixth WNBA season. Despite battling ups and downs, she played a pivotal role in helping the Phoenix Mercury make a postseason appearance. Clocking 27.7 minutes per game across 40 outings, she averaged 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and a sharp 37.8% from beyond the arc.
Unfortunately, their playoff dreams were stomped out by the Minnesota Lynx, who later lost to the Liberty in the Finals. Still, Cunningham remains a bright spot in the Mercury’s lineup—equal parts grit, grind, and a whole lotta guts.
Border War Banter: Sophie Unleashed
While her cowboy chic stole the Vegas spotlight, her keyboard stole it back with an NSFW rant about the University of Kansas. As a proud Missouri Tigers alum, Cunningham didn’t hold back her feelings ahead of the Border War basketball showdown between Mizzou and Kansas.
“I mean, I’ll say it…. Fk KU! FK KU! F**K KU!” she commented on a hyped video for the upcoming game. Subtlety? Not in Sophie’s vocabulary when it comes to old college rivalries.
For context: the Tigers and Jayhawks don’t exactly exchange Christmas cards. While Cunningham never played Kansas during her college days (Mizzou had shifted conferences), her disdain for the Jayhawks runs deep.
Vegas Vibes, Rivalry Rhymes, and Rodeo Royalty
In a weekend that balanced high-octane rodeo thrills with salty basketball rivalries, Sophie Cunningham reminded us why she’s the league’s queen of “doing the most.” Whether she’s outpacing defenders on the court, mingling with bull-riding royalty, or unleashing spicy social media clapbacks, Cunningham is as entertaining as she is competitive.
The only question left? What’s next for Sophie—skydiving with Olympians? Co-hosting a reality show with Charles Barkley? One thing’s for sure: when Cunningham steps into a room—or onto the court—she’s guaranteed to bring flair, fun, and a splash of fiery rivalry.
