A WNBA guard defended women’s sports from men who want to compete in them, and her sneakers sold out in under an hour.
Story Snapshot
- Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s first Adidas player-exclusive shoe, the Crazy Energy “Sophie Cunningham” PE, sold out in most sizes within hours of its July 24, 2026 release.
- The sellout followed Cunningham’s public comments opposing biological males competing in women’s sports.
- Adidas priced the shoes between $110 and $120, and one report says more than 190 buyers snapped up pairs the day of launch.
- Cunningham had already gone viral for a June on-court moment defending teammate Caitlin Clark, adding fuel to her rising popularity.
- No official Adidas statement has confirmed why demand spiked, leaving room for both cultural and commercial explanations.
A Star Stands Firm And Fans Respond
Sophie Cunningham has become one of the WNBA’s most talked-about players, second only to Caitlin Clark in name recognition. She built that following by speaking bluntly, defending Clark on the court, and refusing to back down when critics attacked her. When she spoke out against men competing in women’s sports, the backlash from progressive commentators came fast. So did the demand for her shoes.
Adidas announced the Crazy Energy “Sophie Cunningham” player-exclusive colorway on July 10, 2026, giving fans ten days notice before release. The shoe came in a pink gradient with light blue mesh and orange accents, retailing near $120. It marked her first signature sneaker deal and only the second WNBA player-exclusive Adidas had released since Candace Parker, according to reporting on the launch.
Sold Out Within Minutes Of Going Live
The numbers tell the story plainly. Fox News reported that within minutes of social media promotion, most men’s and women’s sizes vanished, and the entire run was gone in under an hour. Sporting News confirmed the shoes were completely sold out in both men’s and women’s sizes by Friday morning, less than 24 hours after release. Sports Illustrated noted a handful of larger men’s sizes lingered briefly before disappearing too.
Breitbart reported that more than 190 buyers purchased the shoe the day it dropped, despite what the outlet called attacks from radical left-wing critics angry at Cunningham’s stance. That detail matters. It shows fans did not shy away from supporting her just because activists tried to shame them. If anything, the backlash appears to have backfired, driving more attention and more sales toward a woman who simply said men should not play women’s sports.
Real Demand Or Just Good Timing
Some outlets point to other factors behind the rush. Cunningham’s viral June moment, when she stood up for Clark during a physical confrontation, spread across social media and boosted her profile well before the shoe dropped. A brobible report noted the release coincided with the WNBA All-Star weekend, a natural spike point for merchandise sales regardless of any political statement.
Sports Illustrated also noted that while Adidas.com sold out fast, additional stock stayed available at Dick’s Sporting Goods and other retailers, suggesting the sellout partly reflects limited initial inventory rather than pure demand alone. Adidas has not released sales data or an official explanation connecting the sellout to Cunningham’s comments on women’s sports, so no company statement directly confirms the cause conservatives suspect.
What This Means For Fans Of Fair Play
Still, the timing speaks loudly. Cunningham took a public stand for keeping men out of women’s sports, faced criticism for it, and then watched her merchandise disappear from shelves. Whether every buyer purchased the shoe purely as a political statement or partly because of a catchy colorway and All-Star timing, the outcome sends a clear message. Standing up for women’s sports has not hurt her brand. It may have helped it.
They tried to cancel Sophie Cunningham.
Instead, Adidas dropped her shoe — and it sold out.Do you stand firmly with Sophie?
A. Yes
B. No pic.twitter.com/gipZTZKYht— 𝔉🅰𝒏 Karoline Leavitt (@WHLeavitt) July 25, 2026
Cunningham posted a heartfelt thank-you to fans after the sellout, according to Sporting News, acknowledging she did not expect the response. For conservatives who have watched corporations cave to activist pressure for years, this episode offers a rare example of a company and an athlete benefiting from refusing to bend on common sense. Women’s sports belong to women, and plenty of fans were happy to put their money where that principle stands.
Sources:
twitchy.com, foxnews.com, sportingnews.com, breitbart.com, sportsnaut.com, si.com, wbap.com, youtube.com
