The WNBA has seen record viewership and attendance this season, and players like Sophie Cunningham have taken full advantage of it.
Cunningham has dazzled all season on and off the court for the Mercury, with a collection of dresses and other gear to get the attention of WNBA fans.
Some of those outfits include her wearing a floral dress where parts of her stomach and her tan lines could be seen.
Sophie Cunningham recently had an exclusive interview with the New York Post about her style.
“The [outfits] that have went really viral, my mom [Paula] has actually picked them out,” Cunningham said during an interview with The Post while discussing Quest Nutrition’s new Bake Shop line of protein-packed sweets.
The 28-year-old said he showed her mom, and she would choose the strapless color-block mini dress that showed off her bikini tan lanes through side-cuts.
The Mercury posted a video of her walk-in, and Cunningham went incredibly viral.
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“[Paula] thought I looked really cute,” Cunningham said.
“It’s been really fun because now [my family] is on all the outfits. And trust me, my family is like, ‘Oh, gosh,’ what’s Sophie gonna wear today? It’s just like a running joke.”
Despite what people may think, Cunningham states it’s “actually hilarious” because her outfits aren’t always planned.
“For me, it really is just like a spur-of-the-moment type thing. If I’m feeling being cozy and sporty, I go that route. If I feel like I want to be a little feisty and turn some heads and be a girly girl [I go that route],” she said.
Due to the emergence of players like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Cameron Brink, the WNBA had its most-watched season in 26 years since its inception.
For those reasons and many others, Sophie Cunningham refuses to hate on the incoming rookie players.
“To be honest, I think this is such a positive thing. It’s so good for our league,” Cunningham said of the heightened attention. “It’s such an exciting time to be a part of the W[NBA].
“I do think there are so many new eyes, and with that, there’s a lot of people who might not know what they’re talking about. They have a lot to say … But to me, I’m not hating. I think this rookie class has pushed the W in the right direction so so much, and I’m so thankful. Because then you get to work with brands like Quest, who are also really great people who want you to be successful, and it’s opened up the doors to so much for me. Any press is good press for the W. And I think once people start watching it, they fall in love with it. The players have always been there [and] the skills have always been there.”
The increased attention has garnered Cunningham more than 247,000 followers on Instagram.
Sophie Cunningham Says Her Mother Helped Her Pick Out Skimpiest Outfit Of The Year
Phoenix Mercury star Sophie Cunningham likes to wear skimpy outfits to games, but unfortunately, the next time we’ll see her do so will be during the 2025 season after her team was eliminated from the playoffs.
In the meantime, Cunningham revealed that her “Love Island”-inspired dress, which revealed her summer tan lines before the Mercury’s matchup against the New York Liberty on Aug. 26, was actually approved by her mother.
“I was just talking to someone, and I was like, ‘Actually, my mom picked that outfit out,'” Cunningham said.
“Everyone’s all in my comments about, ‘Oh, your parents –‘ and I’m like, actually, that was my mom’s doing. But, no, I had no idea,” she added when asked if she thought the tan line reveal would be so controversial.
