Jennifer Pottheiser. Getty Images.It was just a week ago that the WNBA attempted to boost its popularity – already at record levels – with a brand new advertising campaign, using a method that is relatively new to them, but one that has already launched many successful companies, including ours:
Specifically, the Phoenix Mercury have sent Sophie Cunningham where she belongs best, apart from the basketball court: In front of the camera:
As far as advertising campaigns go, it’s not the smartest move since Mean Joe Greene threw his sweaty game gear at a small, doe-eyed Steelers fan. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t effective. The video has been viewed nearly 15 million times. Cunningham’s post has over 43,000 likes. And she’s become quite a household name.
But before we give all the credit to the league, the Mercury or even Cunningham, she made it clear that her mother is the Don Draper behind it all:
Source – The veteran WNBA player turned heads in a “Love Island”-inspired dress that revealed her summer tan lines before the Mercurys’ game against the New York Liberty on Aug. 26. A select few fans on social media criticized the look, but Cunningham told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday that the outfit was definitely mommy-approved.
“I was just talking to someone and said, ‘Actually, my mom picked out this outfit,'” Cunningham said, laughing.
“Everyone comments on my comments like, ‘Oh, your parents -‘ and I say, actually that was my mom’s doing. But no, I had no idea,” she added when asked if she thought the tan line reveal would be so controversial.
It’s odd that anyone would consider a grown woman being photographed in an incredibly beautiful dress to be “controversial.” But I guess that’s a sign of the terrible times we live in. The bigger point is that Cunningham appreciates the attention and plans to throw herself into this new role:
Advertising
“I think it’s really super cool that people are now interested in what we do off the court. Our tunnel fits were kind of a fashion show and people are so excited and curious to see what we’re going to wear.”
Cunningham has continued to turn heads with her pre-game outfits since then, even telling Fox News Digital that her planned outfit for Thursday’s game against the Washington Mystics “will be vibrant (and) bold and hopefully turn some heads.”
And that’s how you generate interest in a Thursday night regular season game that directly competes with the NFL kickoff. So obviously it won’t be long before she gets good at this business.
And as for her parents? I don’t have daughters, so there are terabytes of data I’ll never know about how to properly raise a daughter. But if I had to guess, I’d say Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are doing an exemplary job. I mean, what qualities would you most want in the young woman you raised? Strength. Intelligence. Character. Confidence. Fearlessness. “Feisty and sassy.” Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, and checkmate.
Giphy images.
If that’s controversial for anyone, then they have a “Them” problem, not a “Sophie Cunningham” problem. And it’s not a “Mrs. Cunningham” problem, either. Because Sophie’s mom has it. Now we wait to see what they pick for the Mystics game, and the best year ever for women’s basketball continues.
