Adidas and Hibbett Schedule Public Appearance for Sophie Cunningham’s Shoe Launch
The veteran guard’s first publicly available player-exclusive sneaker debuts during a break in the WNBA schedule.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is set to attend a public appearance at a Hibbett store in Romeoville, Illinois, on Friday, July 24, to mark the release of her first publicly available Adidas player-exclusive basketball shoe. The event, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. CT, coincides with the official launch of the Adidas Crazy Energy “Sophie Cunningham” PE, which will be available to the public for $120.
The appearance occurs during a scheduled break in the Fever’s WNBA schedule, positioned between games against the Connecticut Sun on July 22 and the Seattle Storm on July 28. Romeoville is located approximately 30 miles southwest of Chicago, providing a regional hub for fans to meet the veteran guard and purchase the new footwear on its release date.
Hibbett’s marketing for the event explicitly references a viral moment involving Cunningham and Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner. The retailer’s announcement included the phrase, “Not to point fingers, but you should be there,” leveraging the widespread popularity of the on-court exchange that became a widely shared meme. The campaign encourages fans to “Bag your pair, take the spotlight, and Take Yours,” highlighting Cunningham’s growing off-court profile alongside her on-court performance.
The Adidas Crazy Energy “Sophie Cunningham” PE features a vibrant pink-to-white gradient colourway and incorporates Adidas branding and performance technology designed for basketball. It is classified as a player-exclusive colourway rather than a traditional signature shoe, meaning it is a personal version of an existing model created for Cunningham rather than an entirely new silhouette. Despite this distinction, the public release represents a significant career milestone, as many player-exclusive shoes are never offered to consumers.
Cunningham has established herself as one of the WNBA’s most recognizable players, averaging 9.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists this season while shooting 43.8 per cent from three-point range. Her popularity has extended beyond statistics through her “Show Me Something” podcast and a substantial social media following. The shoe launch aligns with the release of a Crazy Energy colourway connected to Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally on the same day.
Hibbett has not confirmed whether Cunningham will sign a specific number of autographs at the event, nor has it been determined if fans must purchase the shoe to participate in the appearance. The event underscores the increasing marketability of WNBA players, connecting Cunningham’s performance, style, and personality in a product available for public purchase.
