Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham is making waves both on and off the court.
The Mercury secured their 14th playoff appearance in 16 seasons with a 74-66 win over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday. But Cunningham was already grabbing attention after a pregame outfit went viral on social media.
The veteran WNBA player caught everyone’s eye with a "Love Island" inspired dress. It showed off her summer tan lines before the Mercury’s game against the New York Liberty on Aug. 26. Some fans on social media had mixed reactions to the look. But Cunningham told Fox News Digital that the outfit got mom’s seal of approval.
"I was just talking to someone, and I was like, 'Actually my mom picked that outfit out,'" Cunningham said with a laugh.
"Everyone’s all in my comments like, 'Oh, your parents --' and I’m like, actually, that was my mom’s doing." She added that she didn’t expect the tan line reveal to stir up any controversy.
Cunningham sees the buzz as part of a bigger picture. The WNBA is drawing record viewership and attendance this season. Fans aren’t just into the game anymore—they’re watching the players closely too.
"I think it’s super cool that people are interested in what we do off the court now. Our tunnel fits have basically become a fashion show. People are excited and curious about what we’re going to wear."
Her pregame looks keep making waves. She even shared with Fox News Digital that her outfit for Thursday’s game against the Washington Mystics is set to be "feisty."
"I have a new fit tomorrow that I haven’t done yet," she teased. "It’s representing Quest, and it’s going to be feisty, sassy, and hopefully turns some heads."
Cunningham recently teamed up with Quest Nutrition for their new Bake Shop products. The line features protein-packed brownies and muffins.
"As a pro athlete, how you fuel your body is super, super important," she said. "Quest does a great job making sure you're eating well without sacrificing taste. And you're not feeling guilty when you want to eat two brownies at once."
Phoenix will face Washington on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.