Sophie Cunningham's re-signing signals the return of the "Tres Leches" at the Indiana Fever. However, amid rising fame and injury concerns, the Fever guard has opened up about seeking professional mental health support and why it matters.

Recently, reporter James Boyd shared a clip on X of Cunningham speaking to the media and updating her five-year work with a sports psychology coach ahead of day nine of training camp.

When asked if she’s had to focus more on the mental side because of the attention, Sophie Cunningham said, "I think you start working on that in high school. Like, you have to have the mental aspect. I think at every level, it gets tougher and tougher. People are all good. At this level, everyone's great. So what are you going to do to set yourself apart?"

"The majority of the time, it's mental. And so, of course, I have a support side coach that I've been working with for five years now,” she added.

While Cunningham didn't name the coach, she praised him, saying, "He's absolutely phenomenal. I think that's what allows me to be confident and have my edge."

Consequently, when asked why she sought professional help, the 29-year-old said, "Sports, you never know what it's going to throw at you, especially when you're on the beaver, and you have so many eyes on you 24/7. People forget you're human. Social media is awesome, but also totally brutal."

"So you can't rely on those types of people to give you your identity. And so, just kind of remembering your why, remembering what makes you, you, and being confident in that," she further added.

Because of her last year's injury, Sophie Cunningham’s fitness will be a major talking point heading into the 2026 season. However, the Fever Guard has been cleared by the medical team and also shared a positive update during training camp.

"I’m 29, and truly, I feel better than I ever have," she said last month while reflecting on the injury she suffered on August 17 last year while playing against the Connecticut Sun.

However, her on-court role now faces a tougher test with rising competition in the rotation.

Raven Johnson's defensive prowess adds pressure on Sophie Cunningham's minutes

In her first season with the Indiana Fever, Sophie Cunningham became known as Caitlin Clark’s "enforcer." But with rookie Raven Johnson emerging as a force, her role this year could be smaller.

Johnson has already shown strong defensive skills that set her apart from others on the roster. While this helps the team overall, it could mean fewer minutes for Cunningham if Johnson earns a bigger role in the rotation.

Sophie Cunningham cannot be counted out, as she was having a strong debut season before her season-ending MCL injury. She averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting a career-high 43.2% from three, making her a great fit alongside Caitlin Clark.

However, with Clark back from injury after being limited to 13 games in 2025, Kelsey Mitchell set as a starter, and Lexie Hull securing her role, Sophie Cunningham will need to prove herself on both ends of the court to Stephanie White.

Moreover, with limited minutes available, Raven Johnson's defensive prowess could push the veteran further down the rotation.

Having said that, do you think Sophie Cunningham’s mental strength will help her keep a key role despite the team's rising talent pool?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Yask Kotak