WNBA: Sophie Cunningham gets brutally honest about facing criticism 

Sophie Cunningham had a great debut season with the Indiana Fever, serving as a key piece for the team. She averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals a game and helped them win the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. 

On top of that, Cunningham had impressive shooting averages, getting career highs of 46.9% from the field and 43.2% from the three.

Cunningham’s addition to the Fever was a much-needed move as she became the enforcer of the team. Ever since her arrival, she has become the squad’s physical protector, especially when opponents try to bully her teammates.

Unfortunately, the seven-year veteran only played 30 games last season after suffering a right knee injury. Connecticut Sun guard Bria Hartley landed on her leg, causing Cunningham to tear her right MCL. 

Cunningham is now getting back into shape as she prepares for the next WNBA season.

In her seven-year WNBA career, Cunningham has faced a lot of criticism. She has carved a role as the physical enforcer who will get into opponents’ faces when they bully her team. Of course, being in that role comes with a lot of talking heads saying a lot of things. 

In a recent episode of her podcast, “Show Me Something,” Cunningham and Co. talked about handling criticism. Their guest, TV personality Carl Radke, shared his struggles about being a people-pleaser. This prompted Cunningham to chime in, saying, “You need to learn how to not care so much.”

WNBA star Sophie Cunningham shares her mindset on criticisms

Cunningham was then asked by her co-host about her trick for handling that situation.

“I work with a sports pysch guy, and that has been literally a night and day difference for me,” she said. “I’ve always had a confidence about me that I can beat my own drum. Like, I know my end goal. I know who I wanna be.”

The Fever guard then shared that many people can get into their own heads, which makes them question themselves.

“I’ve truly mastered — not mastered, but pretty damn close — the past two or three years of like who gives a [expletive],” Cunningham shared. “I literally do not care like people are gonna love me or hate me regardless of what I do. … I just don’t care what other people think of me.”

Cunningham’s co-host then had a follow-up question: “Do you think it’s natural or it’s learned?”

“I think there’s a little bit of natural,” she said. “But I had to relearn how to not care so much. Because I’m someone who is very passionate and fiery.”

She finished by saying, “I love people, I care about people, but I have just really mastered the art of like, I really, I don’t give a [expletive].”

This goes to show how minding one’s own business can go a long way. This outlook will play a pivotal role for Cunningham and the Fever as they look to make a push for the WNBA championship next season.

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