Sophie Cunningham gets the royal treatment in Missouri as fans welcome her home

Missouri gave Sophie Cunningham a warm welcome when the WNBA star returned to her alma mater for Mizzou Homecoming. Cunningham rode through the celebration in the bed of a pickup truck, waving to fans and tossing candy to children gathered along the parade route. The enthusiastic reception quickly drew attention on social media, where fans treated the former Tigers star like Missouri royalty. Cunningham remains Mizzou women's basketball's all-time leading scorer and was inducted into the university's athletic Hall of Fame in 2025. The celebration came shortly after Cunningham's second season with the Indiana Fever ended with a first-round playoff elimination. Her one-year contract expired, making her an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2027 season. Her WNBA future may be uncertain, but in Missouri, Cunningham looked completely at home.