WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham has developed a reputation as an enforcer and protector for her teammates, though she has rejected those labels herself. She has nevertheless made clear that she will stick up for teammates when needed while also trying to get into opponents’ heads.

Retired NBA forward Matt Barnes admits that he sees himself in Cunningham in the role she’s established for herself.

Matt Barnes Lauds Sophie Cunningham for Her On-Court Role

Some players become popular not because of their numbers, but because of the impact they have that doesn’t show up on the box score. Barnes, a member of the 2017 Golden State Warriors championship team, fits that mold.

During an October 22 episode of “All The Smoke,” the NBA champion shared that he saw himself in the wayCunningham plays. A clip from that episode was reposted by the podcast’s X account on Tuesday.

“She’s like a little villain out there,” Barnes said. “I like her, she’s kinda found her niche. I don’t get into the political [expletive] or that side to side, but I think she kinda reminds me of myself.”

“She protects Caitlin [Clark], she goes out there, hits big shots, plays defense, plays hard, talks her [expletive]. I like her,” he admitted.

Cunningham doesn’t produce All-Star-caliber numbers. This past season, she averaged 7.9 points on 46.0/41.9/85.1 percent splits, along with 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists through 43 games. Still, she was a key member of the Fever’s rotation, logging about 22.2 minutes per game, mostly off the bench.

What made her valuable were the things she did that do not show up on the box score. She plays a hard-nosed brand of basketball, bringing toughness and physicality to the court. She also isn’t afraid to play mind games, using that edge to throw opponents off.

When things get a little chippy on the court, she also makes sure that she’s there to protect her teammates.

The 6-foot-1 guard is an unrestricted free agent, and CBS Sports identified her as one of the top players available this offseason.

That playstyle is reminiscent of how Barnes operated during his playing days. He was never considered a star player and was more of a journeyman, suiting up for nine different franchises over a 14-year career.

Over those 14 years, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. While his production didn’t stand out, he offered something valuable to teams that wanted a shot at a title.

The 6-foot-7 forward provided hustle, energy, and physicality to his team. He served as an enforcer, which connects to the same kind of edge Cunningham brings, and was not afraid to talk trash or play mind games.

Back in 2010, Barnes became part of a moment that has lived on in basketball history: he acted as if he were going to throw the ball right at Kobe Bryant’s face before inbounding it.

What made the moment even more legendary was Bryant’s reaction. Even though it looked like Barnes was going to throw the ball at his face, the Los Angeles Lakers legend didn’t flinch.