Sophie Cunningham's Pregame Outfit Sparks Controversy

Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham has attracted significant attention for her revealing pregame outfit ahead of a game against the New York Liberty, which was styled to echo a caption from 'Love Island'. The video of her entrance, featuring her in a sheer, see-through dress, garnered over 3 million views on social media. While her fashion choices have sparked both admiration and criticism from fans, with some questioning the focus on appearance over performance, Cunningham's on-court performance fell short as she scored only two points in the subsequent game, which the Mercury lost 84-70. This incident highlights the ongoing conversation regarding the balance between athletic performance and personal branding in the WNBA. Despite the backlash, Cunningham remains a notable figure in the league, averaging 7.7 points per game this season. The Mercury are currently in contention for the playoffs, with nine games left in the regular season.