Former Mizzou star Sophie Cunningham hits game-winner in Phoenix Mercury preseason game

Sophie Cunningham always thought her shooting ability would immediately translate to the WNBA, but her game-winning heroics appear to have quickly followed.

The former Missouri star, now playing for the Phoenix Mercury, hit a game-winning three in the closing seconds to lift her team over the Seattle Storm 87-84 in a preseason game. Cunningham finished with nine points in 16 minutes. She previously had 10 points in 22 minutes in the Mercury’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Despite being a second-round pick by the Mercury in April’s WNBA Draft, Cunningham continues to put herself in position to make the roster. The regular season starts on May 25, when the Mercury travel to Seattle.

Non-first round picks face an uphill battle in the WNBA, with 12 teams only have 12 roster spots to work with. Mercury fans advocated for Cunningham’s roster spot after the game, praising her for her scoring and clutch shooting.

Cunningham said after the WNBA Draft that she doesn’t care about the track record of second-round picks making teams, believing she controls her own destiny.

“I don’t care,” she said. “I’m going to own my role.”

So far, it appears she has.

This story was originally published May 16, 2019 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Former Mizzou star Sophie Cunningham hits game-winner in Phoenix Mercury preseason game."