WNBA star Sophie Cunningham made a religious change after childhood.
The 30-year-old WNBA free agent, who is coming off two strong years with the Indiana Fever, spoke to comedian and podcast host Theo Von on “This Past Weekend” earlier this fall. Cunningham, who grew up in Missouri, opened up about her religious change after childhood.
Cunningham said that she grew up Catholic. However, upon adulthood, she shifted out of the Catholic church. The 3-point sharpshooter now considers herself a more generic Christian.
“I was raised Catholic but now I’m just like more Christian,” she said on Episode 692 of Theo Vonn’s podcast, identifying herself as nondenominational. “I love Jesus.”
“I rely a lot on my faith because of what I do for a living,” she added. “[It] keeps me stable and it keeps me to be who I am.”
Cunningham, who is entering free agency, says that she doesn’t have a home church. She spends a lot of her time on the road, due to the WNBA’s schedule, which runs from the spring through the early fall. She also spends a lot of her offseason traveling, due to various business opportunities and things like that.
The WNBA guard received a lot of hate this year, due to her opinion on transgender athletes.
Cunningham told ESPN that she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
She stands by those comments.
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham told reporters. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
Cunningham doesn’t mind being hated by some
Cunningham added that she doesn’t mind being hated by some, as long as she stays true to herself and her own morals.
“I don’t care what people’s opinions are about me because I’m not living for their praise,” she added to Vonn.
Cunningham also believes that there’s a “revival” happening in religion.
The veteran WNBA guard has noticed that “there’s more and more people coming out that they are Christians and that they are believers.”
“I feel like there’s a revival happening,” she added.
“It’s cool to see them be able to be bold and courageous and come out about Jesus,” she claimed.
Cunningham is entering a big offseason for herself, heading into WNBA free agency. The veteran WNBA guard is trying to keep a good mindset.
Indiana Fever guard hoping to stay grounded during free agency
The former Phoenix Mercury guard would love to be back with the Fever in 2027, though her future is currently unclear.
Cunningham, who starred collegiately at the University of Missouri, is hoping to stay grounded during the process.
“I’m just embracing where my two feet are at,” she said to the US Mirror. “I live a pretty blessed lifestyle. I’m going to live it up, and I’m just happy to be where I’m at.”
