Sophie Cunningham embraces new WNBA label given to her

Cunningham then used the label to explain her view against the societal expectation that female athletes must choose between femininity and athletic dominance.

“It’s not for me. The reason why I really lean into that is, first of all, I have always been super girly. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved to dress up. I love dresses, I love high heels, I love all of that. You can be girly, and you can go out and kick someone’s a**,” Cunningham explained during the same conversation, per a video clip shared by Daily Loud on X.

Cunningham always framed herself as a player who’s not afraid to get physical and talk trash on the court. But when she’s off the court, she’s completely different, flaunting her fashion sense, high heels, and accessories.

But at the same time, Cunningham made sure to emphasize that there is no single blueprint for a female basketball player. She pointed out that players who prefer a more masculine style are just as valid and just as effective when the game begins.

“Like, I love that combination, and you can go and dress a little more masculine and go out there and still kick a**. Like, there’s not one way to do it right,” she added.

Cunningham’s fashion doubles as a business strategy

Cunningham was also candid that the attention on her image isn’t purely personal expression — it’s strategy.

“Why would I not maximize my opportunity?” she said during the same conversation on ‘The Colin Cowherd Podcast’, pointing out how much more scrutiny players face today than in years past, when many showed up to arenas in little more than sweats.

“Now that we have so many eyes on everything that we do, why would I not maximize my opportunity? Because if people are seeing how I dress, well guess what? That’s business. I have a very kind of business mindset at times,” she added.

It translated into one of the more active endorsement portfolios in the WNBA. Cunningham’s deals include Adidas, Arby’s, Marriott Bonvoy, Quest Nutrition, and European Wax Center, and she recently added coconut water brand Once Upon A Coconut to the list.

Adidas even revealed a player-exclusive colorway of its Crazy Energy sneaker in Cunningham’s honor.

In May, she made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut alongside Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Olympic sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

Still, at the end of the day, Cunningham insists, “I also just like to be a girl, and I like to dress up, and I like to look a certain way.”