Sophie Cunningham believes in instant justice, and on the court. So when Jacy Sheldon went airborne, she took matters into her own hands and yanked her like it was less WNBA, more WWE. The refs swallowed their whistles. As Rachel DeMita put it, “She bear hugged her, took her to the ground…absolutely intentional.” That clip traveled everywhere, and it changed how people perceive her. Cunningham admitted as much herself: “I worked my whole life to become a WNBA basketball player and now people know me as WWE.” It stung, but it also fit perfectly because there is a story.
She’s a taekwondo black belt; she’s wired for explosiveness. But what fans don’t realize is that the toughness didn’t just come from gyms or practice courts. It’s in her bloodline. The Fever’s acting “point god” while Caitlin Clark is sidelined is the product of parents who passed down every ounce of athletic drive. So let’s sketch out the family tree.
Who is Sophie Cunningham’s father?
If Sophie Cunningham plays like someone who is built for collisions, it might be because her father once lived them every Sunday. Jim Cunningham attended high school in Columbia and played football for Mizzou. He wasn’t flashy, and his brief career reflects the same, but he embodied the kind of grit that clears the way for others to shine. He is surely a fitting parallel to Sophie’s own willingness to do the dirty work for her team.
Jim’s football life made discipline and resilience their basic household values. But for Sophie, it wasn’t just about what her dad accomplished, but also about picking every athletic move. He is the kind of gentle father who treated Sophie’s best friend, Cameron Bagley, like his own son. “He was such a likeable kid,” said Jim, and offered him steady mentorship. That nurturing nature perfectly balanced his toughness, and it showed Sophie that strength can come with compassion.
Even now, Jim is as likely to be spotted pacing a Mizzou section as he is holding court in a grocery store aisle. Basically, Sophie grew up with a father who had already fought his battles in the trenches and also taught her how to face hers.
Who is Sophie Cunningham’s Mother?
Paula Cunningham is more than just “Sophie’s mom.” She is the fiery anchor of the family, she is the voice Sophie still hears – in encouragement, in warning, sometimes in laughter. Mama P is a former track athlete at Missouri. However, that’s not all either. All the hard calls were also taken by Paula. Yes, it includes the phone call that shattered Sophie’s sophomore year.
She broke the news to Sophie that her best friend, Cameron, had taken his own life. That memory of her screams has stayed with Sophie to date, but so has her mom’s example of enduring grief with resilience. So whether it’s consoling her daughter after a devastating loss or joking before games to “watch out for flying d—s” during the WNBA’s bizarre protest epidemic, Paula has always provided perspective to her daughter. She is tough when necessary, and she is as lighthearted when possible. She is known among family and friends as “Mama P.”
She’s also a bundle of extroverted energy. But more than anything, Paula reflects the family’s philosophy: work hard, stay grounded, keep people close. For all the outside noise around Sophie (praise, boos, or controversy), her mother’s voice has always been the one cutting through it.
Other Athletic Members of the Family:
The Cunningham-Primus lineage reads like an entire roster of competitors. Hear it in Sophie Cunningham’s words, “One hour in the driveway always ended up with slamming doors and crying and fighting. But then we only had each other. So, five minutes later, we’d get bored and be like, ‘You want to go back out there and play?’” So who all played in the driveway with Sophie?
First, we have Sophie’s older sister, Lindsey. She was a basketball standout at Missouri before moving into coaching.
Then her aunt, Stacey Primus, was also a part of the Tigers track team, besides competing at the University of Missouri.
Their grandmother, Elizabeth “Sissy” Primus, always had something for horses, which helped the Cunningham granddaughters learn to ride horses early. “I believe that actually has helped us on the court,” Sophie once said, how mastering horse riding helped her basketball game.
And if you think she has mellowed with age, sit near her at a game. From Section 105, she charts her stats and shouts critiques and encouragements with a bark that carries clear across Mizzou Arena.
Even the family’s farm life played a part in Sophie’s Upbringing. She and her sister, Lindsey, grew up riding horses bareback. They learned balance the hard way by raking leaves, and picking up trash because “idle hands weren’t allowed.” Those chores also doubled as strength training long before organized workouts.
Now, by the time the sisters were winning four straight state titles at Rock Bridge High School, farm grit had already conditioned them as much as gym drills. Add in the cousins, uncles, and even their great-grandparents, and it becomes clear: athletics is an inheritance in the Cunningham-Primus household. Whether in football cleats, track spikes, or on horseback, it’s all a family tradition.
The post Who are Sophie Cunningham’s Parents? Everything to Know About Jim and Paula Cunningham appeared first on EssentiallySports.
