By admin 
One would think that being tall and athletic at a young age would make one safe from the bullying in school. However, this is not the case for many girls, including Sophie Cunningham.
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Cunningham grew up in the Midwest with a family full of former collegiate athletes. The women’s side of her clan, especially, were athletic and excelled in various sports. Soph was encouraged and adamant in following in their footsteps. However, as she grew taller and stronger, she stood out among her peers, leading to bullying.
Despite this, Sophie never let it affect her self-esteem because she already had people close to her who had experienced the same thing and helped her see her athletic frame as a gift rather than a curse.
“We had like the best support system. Like my aunt’s 6’3, my mom’s 5’11,” she
“Sometimes, like you would get bullied for being a tall girl, people, especially boys, they’d be like, ‘you should be a boy, like why are you so big? You’re so big, you’re so fat.”
Greatest power
For many children, the words used to mock Soph would severely damage their confidence. It can even create self-esteem issues that could last their whole lives. Fortunately for the Indiana Fever guard, however, she had a family that celebrated the exact things her peers mocked her for.
“My parents, my dad especially, were like, ‘This will be like your greatest power. Put your shoulders back, don’t let anyone tilt your crown. You are you’re perfectly made,” she shared. “Nowadays, being in the league, I’m so glad they gave me that confidence.”
It gave Soph a new perspective on how to move forward amid the criticism, which evolved into the main source of her confidence. By high school, she had begun to carry on her family legacy by competing in various sports.
Against girls and even boys, she used her height and athleticism to excel in soccer, volleyball, basketball and many more. Her versatility was part of what made her a local legend in Colombia, highlighted more when she became the first woman to score points for the Rock Bridge High School men’s football team as a kicker.
Her confidence showed all the way to college at Missouri, where she instantly made an impact on the women’s basketball team and eventually finished her collegiate career as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
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Nowadays, fans have embraced how Soph carries herself in the WNBA. She has used what her parents called her “greatest power” to inspire many young girls around the world, showing that it is possible for someone as athletic and tall as Cunningham to find the right balance between competing and being the best at a sport while still showing off her femininity outside of it.
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An inspiration to many
Only a few players in the W have the influence that Cunningham has today. There are only a few people in the league who have exemplified why being competitive and fearless can help one achieve their dreams. She overcame it all, and she has a message to the young athletes who might be experiencing what she endured.
“Even if you’re a taller boy or you’re a taller girl, like that’s your confidence right there. Even if you’re not like, who cares what height, whatever? Don’t let anyone tell you that your body is not good, that it’s not perfect, or that it is not meant for X, Y and Z,” she stated.
With a growing brand and platform, Soph is paying it forward by sharing the crucial advice from her family. Through every hustle play and every media appearance, she is sending a message to everyone that the things other people use to degrade you are your greatest strengths.
Related: Sophie Cunningham on the reason she picked basketball over volleyball: “I can’t elbow someone”
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 5:51 AM.