The Phoenix Mercury drafted Cunningham with the first choice in the second round and the 13th overall selection, making the Columbia, Mo., native the highest-drafted MU player in the 23-year history of the WNBA.
Leading up to the draft, she had conversations with several of the 12 WNBA teams — but not the Mercury. Her selection came as a pleasant surprise. Her first thoughts on Phoenix?
Taurasi as in Diana Taurasi, a nine-time All-Star, former league MVP and four-time WNBA champion. Cunningham has long admired the 36-year-old veteran and doesn’t mind the occasional comparison to her future teammate.