Sophie Cunningham shares heartfelt reaction after Diana Taurasi's jersey retirement announcement

Sophie Cunningham has always made it clear how much Diana Taurasi means to her, and now that the Phoenix Mercury legend is preparing for another milestone, the Indiana Fever veteran didn't hold back.

Ahead of Thursday night's matchup between the Fever and Mercury, Cunningham was asked about Phoenix's upcoming ceremony to retire Taurasi's iconic No. 3 jersey and induct her into the franchise's Ring of Honor. Her response served as another reminder of the close bond the two formed during their six seasons together.

Taurasi spent her entire 20-year WNBA career with the Mercury, becoming the league's all-time leading scorer while winning three championships and establishing herself as one of the greatest players in basketball history. Cunningham entered the league as a second-round pick by Phoenix in 2019, giving her the opportunity to learn from the future Hall of Famer from day one.

Sophie Cunningham credits Diana Taurasi for shaping her career

When asked what the honor meant to Taurasi, Cunningham immediately spoke about the impact her former teammate had on her both on and off the court.

"I just love her, man. There's never going to be another Diana Taurasi, ever," Cunningham said. "I think she's the one who taught me how to be the ultimate pro. I just think that she's gold down to the core. What she did for our game, what she's going to continue to do for our game is awesome."

For Cunningham, the comments carried extra weight. She spent the first six seasons of her WNBA career in Phoenix before being traded to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season. During that time, she watched Taurasi prepare every day and develop the habits that made her one of the sport's all-time greats.

Those lessons have clearly stayed with her.

Cunningham jokes about missing the ceremony

The Mercury announced earlier this year that Taurasi's jersey retirement and Ring of Honor induction will take place on Aug. 16. Unfortunately for Cunningham, attending may not be possible because the Fever are scheduled to be in the middle of their own season.

When asked if she planned to be there, Cunningham answered with a smile.

"I'll probably be playing but if my mom wants me to call in sick, then yeah, I'll be there."

The lighthearted response quickly drew laughs, but it also underscored how much the ceremony means to one of Taurasi's closest former teammates.

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Taurasi's legacy continues to grow

Very few players have accomplished what Taurasi did during her legendary career. In addition to retiring as the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, she captured three WNBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, the 2009 league MVP, 11 All-Star selections, 10 All-WNBA First Team honors, five scoring titles and six Olympic gold medals with Team USA. Now, the Mercury are adding another chapter to that legacy by permanently retiring the No. 3 jersey she wore throughout her career.

For Cunningham, though, the numbers only tell part of the story. Her comments made it clear that Taurasi's biggest impact may have come behind the scenes, where she helped mentor younger teammates and set the standard for professionalism. As Cunningham continues one of the best seasons of her career with the Fever, she says many of those lessons still guide her today.

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