A hometown hero received one of the highest honors this week, confirming what many already knew: Sophie Cunningham’s legacy at Missouri is now permanently immortalized.

On April 21, 2025, the Missouri Tigers announced Cunningham as the first inductee into the 2025 Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame class.

Her induction came in her first year of eligibility, a rare and fitting tribute for someone whose collegiate resume was so decorated.

From 2015 to 2019, Cunningham set the program’s all‑time scoring record with 2,187 points, and also established school records for free throws made. She was a three‑time First Team All‑SEC player (2017‑2019) in addition to earning AP All‑America honors, including Third Team in 2019.

Her impact went beyond stats. She helped lift Missouri to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances — something the program had not achieved in the previous decades.

In her freshman year, she was named SEC Freshman of the Year while averaging 14.0 points per game and strong contributions in rebounds, assists, and steals.

After college, she transitioned into the WNBA, drafted No. 13 overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2019, later traded to the Indiana Fever ahead of the 2025 season.

Her professional career exhibits steady growth, where she has become known not only for scoring but for hustle, defense, and leadership, especially in tough stretches of games.

When she heard the news of her Hall of Fame induction, her reaction was filled with humility and gratitude. She credited her teammates, coaches, family, and community for helping build the foundation of her success for Missouri.

New head coach Kellie Harper had the privilege of delivering the news, calling her “a winner” and underscoring how much Cunningham has meant to the program and Columbia, Missouri.

Across the league, Kelsey Mitchell—another guard for the Indiana Fever—helped write her own chapter of history. On September 12, 2025, she was named to the Associated Press All‑WNBA First Team for the first time in her eight‑year career.

Her regular season was electric. She finished with 890 total points, second-most in the WNBA, averaged 20.2 points per game, which was third among all players, and led the league in three‑pointers made with 111.

 Those are not just strong numbers—they are franchise‑record performances for the Fever. She also set new club records for career three‑pointers made (669) and number of games with 30 or more points scored, joining elite company in Indiana’s history.

Her contributions were vital to Indiana’s success. For the first time since 2016, the Fever made consecutive playoff appearances. The team also set franchise bests in total wins and road victories, evidence that her scoring and leadership helped push the team into a more competitive tier.

The timing of these two honors—both from Missouri roots and Indiana’s roster—underscores the growing recognition of perseverance, consistency, and impact in women’s basketball. Whether through college greatness or professional maturation, both players represent different arcs of excellence.

Cunningham’s induction acknowledges what she did over her first four years in college, changing the trajectory of the Missouri program. Mitchell’s First Team selection rewards a long process of improvement, of refining her game, staying resilient, and finally reaching a new peak in her late‑career phase.

Both achievements reaffirm that women’s basketball is increasingly elevating and celebrating players not only for raw talent, but for sustained impact, leadership, and the ability to change outcomes.

Moreover, both honors add momentum to conversations about visibility and legacy in women’s sports. Young players in Missouri and Indiana (and beyond) have new role models who show that success comes with both hard work and heart.

The fact that their stories are being told strongly—through Hall of Fame induction or All‑WNBA First Team honors—helps build the narrative that women’s basketball achievements are worthy of mainstream recognition.

Looking ahead, expectations will rise. Cunningham returns to the WNBA with the Fever, now under added prestige, perhaps offering her more voice and visibility off the floor.

Mitchell, having broken through to a First Team, will have the aim of defending or exceeding that level, leading her team deeper into playoff success, and maybe even earning MVP votes if she continues this arc.

There’s also broader impact: fans who may have overlooked Cunningham’s early college years or Mitchell’s steady professional climb might now revisit their careers with fresh appreciation.

Media and institutions may be more proactive in recognizing players who may not be superstars in buzz but are foundational pieces of their programs and franchises.

In the end, these two honors are more than just personal—they are signals. They signal that Missouri remembers its legends. They signal that Kelsey Mitchell’s peak has arrived, and that perseverance pays off.

They signal the changing landscape of women’s basketball, where accomplishments across all levels are being lifted up, celebrated, and cemented for generations.