"I was like, holy smokes": Sophie Cunningham recalls Kobe Bryant's unexpected message for her

Modified Sep 14, 2024 16:46 GMT

Kobe Bryant was a prominent figure in the lives of several athletes, one of them being WNBA star Sophie Cunningham. She shared a snippet of her memories of the 'Black Mamba'.

Cunningham was still finding her way in the WNBA as a first-year player when she was treated to a memorable surprise visit by the Lakers legend, along with his Lady Mambas team.

Cunningham was drafted 13th overall by the Phoenix Mercury back in 2019. During her appearance on The Travis Hearn Podcast, the Mercury guard recalled her rookie moments with Kobe Bryant that she cherishes to this day.

"Kobe surprised us one time," Cunningham said. "We were all practicing and coach was like, 'Hey, practice is over, we need to have a team meeting'. ... all of a sudden, the Little Lady Mambas came and then Kobe walked in. I was like, 'Holy smokes'. ... I introduced myself ... he's like, 'I know who you are, like I watched you in college.'"

Sophie Cunningham has gone from strength to strength since she first arrived in the WNBA. Getting to meet and pick Kobe Bryant's mind has gone a long way in her development as a player. To this day, she still considers it as one of her very fond memories.

Sophie Cunningham shared how Diana Taurasi helped her grow in the WNBA

Playing in her sixth season with the Mercury squad, Sophie Cunningham argued that the road hasn't been easy and quick. However, she revealed to SLAM Magazine's Deyscha Smith that veteran teammate Diana Taurasi was pivotal in her journey.

"There are some people who can go into the league and they have the green light right away ..." Cunningham said. "... I was DT's sub for the majority of my career. I finally worked my way into the starting lineup about two or three years ago, so (I) definitely was persistent. ... I just had to make sure I stayed ready, I learned that from DT."

Phoenix Mercury teammates Sophie Cunningham and Diana Taurasi - Source: Getty

There's a level of pressure being drafted into a veteran team such as the Phoenix Mercury. However, that didn't hamper Cunningham's drive to be the best kind of player she was capable of being. Persistence and determination were keys for her, along with the valuable guidance provided by Taurasi.

Having a veteran presence in a locker room has always been critical to the development and success of a ball club. A player like Diana Taurasi has provided Cunningham and the rest of her teammates a gold standard for success in the professional league.

With over 20 seasons played in the WNBA, Taurasi has been the benchmark for longevity and dedication to one's craft.