Sophie Cunningham has never exactly lived quietly.
Since leaving Missouri as the Tigers’ all-time leading scorer, she has turned herself into one of the most recognizable names in the WNBA, whether the attention comes from what she does on the floor or from everything around it - the pregame fits, the postgame quotes, all of it. Mizzou fans have known that version of Cunningham for years. The rest of the basketball world is catching up.
This weekend, though, she reached a different kind of fame.
Cunningham became the internet’s favorite meme after a 22-second finger-pointing exchange during Wednesday night’s 111-109 Fever win over the Phoenix Mercury. That game was already drawing attention because Alyssa Thomas punched Fever star Caitlin Clark in the throat while both players were down on the court. By Thursday, though, the clip of Cunningham going at DeWanna Bonner had taken over social media.
On her podcast, Show Me Something, Cunningham said she was questioning the official about why Thomas had not been called for a foul when Clark was. While she was pointing to make her case, Cunningham said Bonner told her, "Don't you point at me."
"I was like 'Oh, shouldn't have said that,'" Cunningham said on her podcast Show Me Something. "I didn't say a word...
So stupid. Like that is probably the stupidest thing I've ever done.
Everybody's telling me 'that's so dumb.' I think it's dumb.
But, like, it was pissing her off. I couldn't help myself."
From there, the internet did what the internet does.
The meme machine moved fast, and Cunningham’s silent pointing became the setup for everything from classic art references to college football jokes. Some of the versions that popped up over the last few days included comparisons to "Virgin of the Rocks, by Leonardo da Vinci, 1483-86," a nod to Mizzou pride with "When you say MIZ and they don’t respond ZOU.
Love you, @sophaller #MizzouMade," and a few shots at everyday life like "When my wife finally tells me I was right about something!" and "My wife after I crack open a breakfast beer:"
Other posts put Cunningham’s gesture into all kinds of different settings, including "Notre Dame fans pointing to their National Championships in the 1940’s after opting out of the Pop Tart Bowl:" and "Manti Te’o when his teammates asked him where his girlfriend was:" There were also football takes like "OL seeing a DL flinch on a hard count" and "Kirby Smart seeing a high school recruit with speeding ticket issues"
The joke factory didn’t stop there. Cunningham also showed up in posts like "when you spot your mate with no money adding wings to the order" and "My wife when she sees how I loaded the dishwasher:" along with "Me when my husband asks where something is that is right in front of his face"
There was even a post from Arnold Schwarzenegger, plus another from Domino's Pizza UK: "when you spot your mate with no money adding wings to the order"
For now, Cunningham has gone from a viral moment to a full-blown meme run. And judging by the volume of jokes, the internet still isn’t done with her.
In Other News...
Missouri's Top Back Just Drew A Label That Changes Everything
Ahmad Hardys rise at Missouri has already put him in rare territory, and the latest national conversation around the position only adds to the spotlight. After transferring in from Louisiana-Monroe and turning in a huge 2025 season, Hardy is being mentioned at the top of the 2026 running back board, right alongside former Tiger Kewan Lacy, now at Ole Miss, after the departure of Jeremiyah Love reshaped the early award picture.
The timing makes the whole thing even more intriguing for Missouri fans, because the Tigers and Rebels are scheduled to meet in October in a game that could double as a showcase for two backs who know the SEC landscape from different angles. Hardys ranking gives Missouri a legitimate centerpiece to build around, but the bigger question is whether he will be ready to fully carry that burden when the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Trent Burns Faces A Defining Mizzou Season Fans Have Waited On
Trent Burns already gave Missouri a glimpse of why the staff has been patient with him, and now the redshirt sophomore center is at the stage where that promise has to start looking like real progress. After showing potential in his redshirt freshman season, Burns is headed into a key stretch of development as he settles into a backup center role, where his size can still matter while he keeps learning how to impact games without getting rushed.
The next step is less about one breakout moment than a steady tightening of his game. Missouri wants Burns to keep sharpening the details that matter for a young big man, from shot blocking and offensive skill to the kind of fluidity that makes a player easier to trust on the floor. His health and conditioning remain part of the equation, too, which is why this season feels like an important checkpoint for a player who still has a lot of runway left. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Faces One Offensive Line Question That Could Shape Everything
Missouri spent the offseason with Josh Atkins penciled in as the answer at right tackle, a spot that carries extra weight with left-handed quarterback Austin Simmons set to run the offense in 2026-27. Atkins has the kind of veteran background the Tigers value, with stops at Houston, Arizona State and Hawaii, and on paper he looked like the cleanest fit to stabilize the edge.
The problem is that the right tackle job is now one of the first real roster questions of camp, because Atkins is not the only option on the board. If he is not ready when fall work begins, Missouri may have to sort through Logan Reichert, Colin Sorensen and possibly younger linemen to find the best protection for Simmons, and that decision could ripple through the whole offense. [Read more 🡒]