Story by Head Girl's Coach, Kodey Weaver.
On Sunday, January 12th, the Lady Pirates competed in the 2025 Sophie Cunningham Classic at Columbia College's Southwell Complex Gymnasium. This three-day girls' basketball showcase features some of the best teams and players from Missouri and neighboring states. For those unfamiliar, Sophie Cunningham is a WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury and a Missouri native. She attended Rock Bridge High School and later played basketball at Mizzou.
In the early 9:30 a.m. game, the Lady Pirates faced off against the Class 4 Fulton Lady Hornets. The Lady Pirates came out strong and led the entire game from start to finish. They secured a 47-32 victory over the Lady Hornets.
At the end of each game at the Sophie Cunningham Classic, an MVP is selected. Senior Addison Ratliff was honored as the game's MVP and had the opportunity to take a picture with Sophie Cunningham, as well as participate in a personal interview. Sophie was also kind enough to visit the Lady Pirates' locker room, where she sought to build connections with the players. She offered valuable advice and assured the girls that they could reach out to her if they ever needed anything.
We are incredibly grateful for the invitation to participate in this showcase and recognize the positive impact it has on young female athletes and the future of women’s basketball.
To check out game photos, as well as Addie's interview, please click on the link: