Cunane came off the bench in her freshman season for majority of the season while also coming back from a foot fracture she suffered in high school.[2] Despite being a bench player, she often played in late-game situations and was a key player towards the end of the Wolfpack's season, starting after an injury to regular starter Erika Cassell.[3][4]
Sophomore season
Cunane started 31 of the 32 games she appeared in, averaging a near double-double as she also earned third-team All-American honors. She also set a NC State single-season record for most made free throws with 159.
Junior season
In her junior season, Cunane started all 23 games she appeared in, despite missing a month recovering from COVID-19. In her return, she put up 16 points and 6 rebounds in a 74–60 win against No. 1 ranked Louisville.[5]
Senior season
Cunane enters her senior season as one of the top prospects in the 2022 WNBA draft.[6]
Cunane represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup, where they won gold.[7][8] She was named to the AmeriCup's All-Star team after averaging 12.8 points and eight rebounds during the tournament.[9]
Professional career
Cunane was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the second round. She was cut after playing in two preseason games.[10]
Minnesota Lynx
Cunane signed a hardship contract with the Lynx on May 31, 2022. She made her WNBA debut on June 1, 2022, against the Atlanta Dream.[11] On June 21, 2022, Cunane was released from her hardship contract.[12] She appeared in 3 games for the Lynx.
Cunane is the daughter of Dan and Sharon Cunane and sister to older sibling William Paul. Dan is a former Greensboro police sergeant who suffered an injury in a bicycle accident when Elissa was two, initially paralyzing him from the neck down.[14] He has since regained some use of his lower body and arms, but still uses a wheelchair to get around.[15]
