Throughout the basketball world, there are surely countless friendships and bonds built over the years. In both the NBA and WNBA, players we may have never realized crossed paths could be lifelong friends or have grown up playing together. That's somewhat the case for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and Brooklyn Nets
forward Michael Porter Jr., and specifically holds true for Porter's sister, Cierra.Cunningham and Porter played together throughout high school, leading the Rock Bridge Bruins to four consecutive state championships, as the Columbia Missourian highlighted in a previous story. The duo then played together for the Missouri Tigers from 2015 to 2019, the same school Porter Jr. attended for the 2017-18 season.
"We kind of grew
up together. You go through all the ups and downs and you end up like sisters," Porter said of her former Missouri teammate Cunningham. “… It’s just a really fun connection and I’m really blessed to have gotten to play with her for so long."
Not surprisingly, the Nets star forward has also shown love for Cunningham throughout her WNBA career and, most recently, addressed a story from The Athletic's Candace Buckner calling Cunningham "too combustible" and "too turbulent to be paired with Caitlin Clark." The story highlighted her belief that Cunningham "has to go" ahead of her impending free agency.
"If you're going to live by the praise, you're going to die by the hate," Cunningham responded on the No Hesitation Show. "The majority of these people have never picked up a ball in their entire lives ... I know what I bring to the table; it's not always in the stat sheet. So, for you to not say I'm effective or any of that...whatever, suck it."
“If you’re going to live by the praise, you’re going to die by the hate. The majority of these people have never picked up a ball in their entire lives. No matter what anyone says to me, I’m going to continue to do me.” -- Sophie responds in a way only Sophie can 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/k9INydzagb
— No Hesitation Show (@NoHesiShow) October 10, 2026
Not surprisingly, both the article and her candid response quickly made waves, and as it turned out, Porter Jr. replied to Cunningham's comments on Instagram.
"You're elite Soph @sophie_cham," Porter Jr. said.
Michael Porter Jr. showing support for Sophie Cunningham. pic.twitter.com/AbLyPmJrMM
— Kit Espina (@KeithEspino22) October 13, 2026
Obviously, the situation ahead of Cunningham's free agency has escalated quickly, with many having varying opinions. Regardless, the Fever appear interested in retaining the 30-year-old guard, who, as she highlighted, does, in fact, do many things that don't show up in the box score.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Michael Porter Jr.'s 3-word message to Sophie Cunningham brings old connection to light
