Basketball star who once wore inexpensive sneakers while playing has now emerged as a key person for an important brand. The sudden rise of Sophie Cunningham in the sneaker business shows how fast an athlete's market appeal can change.

Adidas is rumored to be planning a player-exclusive sneaker for the Indiana Fever guard, which is scheduled for launch on July 24. The Crazy Energy Sophie Cunningham Player Exclusive will be priced at $120, says Sole Retriever.

The report is released when Cunningham's profile is steadily rising. She has around 2 million Instagram followers, hosts a podcast, and has been prominently featured in the spotlight lately because of viral moments involving Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner.

That growing visibility traces back to her Adidas partnership. Just over a year ago, Cunningham drew attention for wearing $45 Adidas shoes during games before later appearing in campaigns for Damian Lillard's Dame X signature line.

This release also fills a gap for Adidas in women's basketball. The brand hasn't had a true signature WNBA athlete since Candace Parker, while Nike currently boasts three. Cunningham could help change that balance moving forward.

This growing sneaker spotlight isn't the only place Cunningham has been carrying weight for Indiana lately. On the court, she's proving just as reliable.

Sophie Cunningham Steps Up As Fever Hold Off Mercury Amid Clark's Recovery

All eyes are on Caitlin Clark's recovery ahead of Sunday's clash with the Las Vegas Aces, but Sophie Cunningham has made sure Indiana doesn't need to wait for that answer to stay competitive.

The veteran guard has settled into a role that keeps the Fever steady no matter who's available. Cunningham backed that up Thursday night, helping Indiana hold off the Phoenix Mercury 92-89.

She scored nine points on nine field goal attempts, added two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 29 minutes, and calmly knocked down all four free throws, including two down the stretch that locked up the win.

Her stats from this season speak volumes about her reliability. According to her WNBA player statistics, Cunningham is averaging 9.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for Indiana.

These aren't the kind of numbers you will see as headlines on a stat sheet, but these are the numbers that have made head coach Stephanie White turn to her in crunch situations when playing against top competition.

Is Sophie Cunningham Indiana's most underrated player going into Sunday's game? Comment.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta