When Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd first crossed paths at a USA Basketball camp in high school, they were just two teenagers competing for the same spot. Neither of them could have imagined what it would all lead to: Paige leading Azzi’s UConn campaign, four unforgettable years as teammates, a national championship, and somewhere along the way, finding love in each other. But not every journey plays out that way. For Napheesa Collier, her relationship with one of her high school contemporaries didn’t spark lifelong friendship. In fact, it might be closer to the opposite….

Indiana vs. Minnesota somehow turned into its own little rivalry this season after their Commissioner’s Cup clash. Sure, the big headline was supposed to be Caitlin Clark vs. Collier, but injuries kept them from really going head-to-head. However, it seemed there was another storyline we should have focused on….Collier and Sophie Cunningham.

Why, you ask?

On Sue Bird’s Bird’s Eye View podcast (Aug. 22), Collier opened up about facing Cunningham way back in the day. The two came up in the same recruiting class (2015) and turned pro together in 2019, but their history goes way deeper. “I’ve played against Sophie since I was in 8th grade,” Collier revealed.

When Bird pressed her to describe Cunningham then vs. now, Phee said with a smile that looked sarcastic, “She is the exact same. Yeah.” That’s it. Just a short smile and a line that had fans instantly reading between the words. Was it shade? A compliment? Or both? Knowing Cunningham’s fiery, in-your-face style, the internet ran with it.

Napheesa Collier & Sophie: Old sparks or just old stories?

“I can tell that Phee don’t fw her 😂😂😂😂,” one fan wrote, and while it’s easy to read into these little moments, we can’t really make a judgment. What we can say is that Napheesa Collier and Cunningham have walked very different paths since their high school days. Both actually grew up not too far apart, Collier in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Cunningham in Columbia, just a 40-minute drive away. 

Phee started out at Jefferson City before heading to Incarnate Word Academy, while Sophie played for Rock Bridge. But when it came time for college, their journeys split entirely. Collier went on to UConn, Cunningham stayed in Missouri and UConn has historically had the upper hand in that matchup, winning every game against Missouri.

Still, what’s interesting is they’ve never really crossed paths or associated much since then. Then another fans said, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This one pointed out Collier’s side eye during her comment, saying it told the whole story. What expression are we exactly talking about? You can see it here:

And then came the Commissioner’s Cup chatter. “I saw Sophie Cunningham drive past Phee at the Commissioner Cup game like she wasn’t there. I guess she did the same in high school. Feel like holding to an old grudge 😂🙃,” another fan wrote. Now, we don’t know how much of that is the truth. What we do know is that both players played their part in the game. Cunningham stepped up big on an injury-riddled roster with 13 points and 7 rebounds, while Collier added 12 points and 9 rebounds. The Fever ended up winning 74-59, so whatever you think about grudges, the reality was both were key for their teams that night.

“She said ‘she’s just an eighth grader in a 30-year-old body now’ lmao,” another fan chimed in, calling it a low blow. Now Collier didn’t literally say that, but the fan was basically paraphrasing the vibe of her comment that Cunningham hadn’t really changed since middle school. Plus, as many highlighted, that could be more about how UConn players are taught to phrase things. People even call it ‘UConn media training’ where alums like Paige Bueckers and others are known for being polished, never really saying anything that’ll get them in trouble, while still making their point.

And someone else added, “Saying that someone hasn’t matured at all since middle school…I’d be so damn embarrassed lmao. But for Phee to say this…as nice as she is? I’d be ashamed.” That reaction probably comes from the contrast between the two. Collier has this calm, composed, professional image, while Cunningham is fiery, outspoken, and never afraid to speak her mind, even when it lands her in fine troubles from the league. That doesn’t mean one has matured more than the other, it just shows their personalities are very different.

At the end of the day, we’ll never really know what these two had or have between them. What we can see is how they’ve both grown into strong, successful players in their own ways. And while spotting tension is everyone’s fav hobby, for now Collier is probable for the next Indiana matchup, and Cunningham is out for season, with an MCL injury. So, these storylines will have to wait.