Sophie Cunningham ready for spotlight alongside Caitlin Clark after trade: ‘Built for this’ -

For Sophie Cunningham, timing was everything.

In February, the Fever acquired the veteran guard from Phoenix in a four-team trade also involving the Connecticut Sun and the Dallas Wings.

It was exactly what Cunningham needed after she “got too comfortable” across six seasons in Phoenix.

Now, she tells The Post that she’s equipped to thrive in the spotlight while playing alongside Fever superstar Caitlin Clark.

“I think that since I’ve been out here in Phoenix it hasn’t always been easy,” Cunningham, 28, said while discussing her partnership with Quest Nutrition. “There’s been a lot of trials. There’s been a lot of lessons learned, a lot of experiences that I thought was just like any WNBA team, but I think it’s built me. It’s made me tougher. It’s tested my persistence and my mental quite a bit.

“I think it’s built me for something bigger and better, and the stage that we’re about to be on with the players that I’m about to be with — I think I am built for this.

“And that doesn’t mean it’s always going to be rainbows and butterflies … each season has their thing. But I just feel like when you’re in a good mindset and you’re around really good people who have a common goal [it works].”

Cunningham said she’s looking forward to an expanded role in head coach Stephanie White’s offense, which is designed to run through the second-year guard, Clark — Indiana’s No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft and the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The generational talent, who became the NCAA’s all-time Division I leading scorer for men and women’s basketball while at Iowa, was the driving force behind exponential growth for women’s college hoops and the WNBA in viewership and revenue.

Clark’s fame put the team under microscope, which opened the flood gates for scrutiny and constant attention.

The Fever had to increase security when they drafted the Hawkeyes legend.

None of that is intimidating to Cunningham, who’s ready to chase a championship with the new-look Fever.

“I think that’s why they brought in a lot of veterans who have that experience,” Cunningham said. “And I’m not saying they have the experience of hundreds of millions of followers watching you, watching your every step, but I do feel like they brought an experience of how to gel in the locker room.

“When you are close knitted in the locker room and off the court, and you have that chemistry … it automatically transforms to that on the court, and you don’t have to worry about all the noise. And you know what I think? Noise is good when you have that many eyes.

“… It’s a year of growth. And so, for me to go and be a part of a team that has a lot of eyes on it off court it’s going to be huge as well. But my focus is on court and winning ballgames and winning championships.”

The Fever will have 41 of their 44 games televised this season.

Indiana also signed veterans DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, both former WNBA champions, this offseason.

In addition to White, the Fever hired Amber Cox as their general manager.

Cunningham explained that she’s entering this season revitalized and ready to whatever it takes to win a title with the franchise.

“I’m just refocused. There’s a different type of vibe and energy about me,” she said. “I think I’m always kind of happy, go lucky, go with the flow, and I’m still that. But I’m also like ready to dial in and get a championship, because that’s something that I haven’t done yet, and so I’m going to do anything in my power to help my team do that

“… It’s time for me to level up. It’s time for me to level up on my nutrition, how I handle myself, how I treat my body, level up on my training level, up, how I treat my teammates, how I’m going to lead. I just think it’s a year of firsts and I’m excited for all that.”

The Mercury selected Cunningham out of Missouri with the 13th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 draft.

She quickly captured attention for her fiery fashion and outspoken demeanor.

Cunningham was known for doing the dirty work, defending the paint and being a consistent spot-up shooter under the mentorship of WNBA legend Diana Taurasi in Phoenix.

“I think I just kind of got too comfortable out here [in Phoenix] in a system that was more, maybe one-v-one, and my role was to get to the corner, or just spot up shoot. I’m going to be a lot more intertwined in their offense … And I love that type of dynamic that the team brings the motion offense where you know it’s all about reads. It’s all about cutting, and when everyone’s on the same page that’s super hard to guard, especially if everyone can shoot the ball as well.

“For me, not a lot of people get that opportunity in their career to go somewhere where they think they’re going to thrive, and that the people around them are going to thrive and make sure that everyone is confident and having fun and winning ball games. It’s just a new, great opportunity.”

In the 2024 season, Cunningham tallied 21 starts and averaged 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

The opportunity to play for the Fever alongside Clark, Bonner, Howard and former No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston — and move closer to home (Missouri) — was an ideal situation for Cunningham.

The Fever acquired Cunningham and the No. 19 selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft from the Mercury.

Additionally, Indiana received guard/forward Jaelyn Brown from the Dallas Wings and both teams swapped third-round picks in the 2027 draft.

The Wings got forward NaLyssa Smith, and the Sun received the No. 8 pick in the 2025 draft from Indiana.

The Fever finished the 2024 regular season with a 20-20 record and in third place in the Eastern Conference, making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Indiana will open its season hosting the Chicago Sky on May 17.