Sophie Cunningham does not hide who her basketball hero is. For the Indiana Fever guard, no player has shaped her career and outlook on the sport quite like Diana Taurasi.
Even though Taurasi stepped away from the game earlier this year, Cunningham cannot help but wonder what it would look like if the legendary guard decided to make a surprising return.
Appearing on The Old Man and the Three podcast, Cunningham reflected on her longtime teammate and close friend. The admiration in her voice was unmistakable as she described Taurasi’s presence.
“Her energy and her aura is just so strong and intense, but I’ve gotten to know her for the past seven years. We are good friends now. She’s so intense, but I think she does that because she has one of the biggest hearts and feels everything,” stated Cunningham.
Linking Taurasi’s drive to Kobe Bryant’s
For Cunningham, the best way to capture Taurasi‘s mentality is to compare her to Kobe Bryant, the NBA star who both inspired and recognized her greatness. Bryant famously nicknamed her the “White Mamba,” and Cunningham believes it was an appropriate label.
“I think she thinks a lot about the game as Kobe did. And he thought about the game at an elite level that a lot of people can’t even understand,” she said.
Like Bryant, Taurasi thrived on relentless preparation and an almost unmatched competitive edge. Both players became known for rising to the occasion in championship moments, leaving behind legacies defined by their ability to meet pressure with brilliance.
Although Taurasi announced her retirement in February 2025 at age 42, Cunningham still envisions how impactful she could be in the current league. The Fever have been hit with a wave of injuries this season, most notably the absence of Caitlin Clark, leaving the young roster searching for leadership.
During the podcast, host JJ Redick mentioned that Clark had once even tried to recruit Sue Bird back into uniform. Cunningham immediately raised the possibility of Taurasi doing the same.
“She can 1000 percent still play. When she’s on, she’s on. She is still so damn good. I think that’s what’s hard for her, cause she knows she could still be out here. Sh** what if she came out of retirement?” asked Cunningham.
Having spent six seasons alongside Taurasi in Phoenix, Cunningham has firsthand experience of what she could offer to any team. Beyond scoring and playmaking, she emphasized the lessons Taurasi imparted daily.
“Showing these younger bucks what it takes to win a championship, what it takes to become the GOAT. I have heard things and seen things that she does that I’m just like, wow. And I don’t get starstruck,” Cunningham said.
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