Sophie Cunningham set for first Adidas sneaker release in July
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is reportedly set to release her first Adidas basketball shoe, the Crazy Energy Sophie Cunningham PE, on July 24 for $120. The player-exclusive drop marks a major sneaker milestone for the viral WNBA star and gives Adidas a retail moment tied to one of the league's most marketable personalities.
Key Takeaways
- Adidas is reportedly dropping the Crazy Energy Sophie Cunningham PE on July 24, 2026, priced at $120.
- Cunningham confirmed the news Friday by sharing shoe images on her Instagram Story, per multiple footwear outlets.
- The release follows a rapid Adidas arc: from roughly $45 game sneakers last June to a Dame X campaign and now her own PE colorway.
- She joins Fever teammate Caitlin Clark among WNBA players with major shoe-line momentum, though Clark's Nike signature shoe is slated for Oct. 1.
- Adidas has not had a WNBA signature athlete since Candace Parker, making Cunningham's PE a notable brand push.
Reports began circulating Friday that Sophie Cunningham is getting her own Adidas footwear release later this month. According to Fox News, sneaker outlet Sole Retriever flagged the upcoming drop, and Cunningham herself appeared to confirm it by posting images to her Instagram Story.
The shoe is the Crazy Energy Sophie Cunningham PE, a player-exclusive colorway on Adidas' performance basketball silhouette rather than a full standalone signature line. Sports Illustrated's Kicks on SI described it as Cunningham's first Adidas player-exclusive basketball shoe, with adult sizes set to sell through adidas.com.
What shoe is Sophie Cunningham releasing with Adidas?
The reported release is the Adidas Crazy Energy Sophie Cunningham PE. Bleacher Report said the brand's "Crazy Energy" player-exclusive colorway will carry Cunningham's name and personal styling on an existing performance model.
Fox News framed the moment as Cunningham's first signature sneaker, noting that landing any athlete-branded shoe is a major career benchmark in basketball. Industry coverage has largely categorized it as a PE release, which still gives fans a retail product tied directly to her on-court identity.
When and where can fans buy the Sophie Cunningham PE?
Multiple outlets, including Sports Illustrated, report a Friday, July 24 release date. The shoe is expected to retail for $120 in adult sizes on adidas.com, with select retailers also likely to carry it.
SI noted the pair has already appeared on StockX ahead of launch, though no listings were active at the time of reporting. Shoppers should expect resale activity to pick up once the shoes officially hit shelves.
Why does a sneaker deal matter for Cunningham now?
Cunningham's off-court visibility has surged. Fox News pointed to her viral pointing moment with Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner and argued Adidas is betting on marketability, not just traditional stat-sheet dominance. Cunningham's career scoring average sits around eight points per game, yet her cultural footprint has clearly grown.
Her Adidas partnership has accelerated quickly. SI reported that Cunningham wore roughly $45 Adidas sneakers during WNBA games last June, then starred in the Dame X campaign the following month. A July PE release would cap a remarkable 12-month climb in the sneaker world.
How does this compare to Caitlin Clark's Nike deal?
The Indiana Fever now have two high-profile shoe stories. Bleacher Report noted Cunningham is one of two Fever players with a major apparel deal, while Caitlin Clark debuted her first Nike signature shoe last month, with a broader market release planned for Oct. 1.
SI added context on the wider WNBA sneaker landscape: Nike currently backs signature athletes including Sabrina Ionescu, A'ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark, while Adidas has not had a WNBA signature shoe since Candace Parker. Cunningham's PE, alongside reported colorways for players such as Satou Sabally, signals Adidas trying to reclaim visibility in women's basketball footwear.
For more breaking celebrity and sports crossover news, follow our Celebrity Breaking News coverage as the July 24 drop approaches.