Mercury to honor women of inspiration with personalized shoes

As part of their Women of Inspirations night, Phoenix Mercury players a paying tribute to the women who mean the most to them.

The Mercury will honor WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at halftime as the team’s 2019 Woman of Inspiration.

Prior to becoming the first WNBA commissioner, Engelbert was the first woman to lead one of the country’s “Big Four” professional service firms (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG) when she served as the CEO of Deloitte.

Most recently, the team’s honorees have included Tammie Joe Shults (2018), former representative Gabby Giffords (2017) and ESPN broadcaster Holly Rowe (2016).

The players each have customized shoes for Tuesday’s game.

Forward DeWanna Bonner’s most important girls in her life are her twin daughters Demi and Cali.

Dewanna Bonner chose the two most important girls in her life, her twin daughters Demi and Cali.

Featured on her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes are their birthday, their favorite animated characters, and caricatures of the two on the tongue of the shoes. pic.twitter.com/oyNBFVSE7Z

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 30, 2019

Guard Briann January was blown away by the execution of her shoes which featured multiple women like former first lady Michelle Obama, sprinter Wilma Rudolph, poet Maya Angelou and others.

“All of these women, they were phenomenal in their own right and through their own channels,” January said in the social media video. “They pushed for better.”

The Mercury will be honoring women who inspire them with hand-painted custom shoes for @AZLottery Women of Inspiration Night on 9.3.@BriannJanuary | #BelieveInWomen pic.twitter.com/HXhiZCfdfU

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 27, 2019

Forward Camille Little selected hip hop icon Ms. Lauryn Hill. Her gold kicks have “How you gonna win when you ain’t right within” printed across the top of the shoes.

.@MsLaurynHill was chosen for Camille Little’s @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes.

Lauryn is one of her favorite artists and she wanted to model the shoes after one of her favorite albums, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. pic.twitter.com/jnYJsRy0o6

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 31, 2019

Guard Leilani Mitchell’s island-themed shoes honor her nana, grandma and mom. The shoes also have the Australian Island of Torres flag.

Leilani chose three women in her family that inspire her the most for her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes, her Nana, Grandma, and her Mom.

To represent them she wanted to highlight where they are from, the Australian Island of Torres. pic.twitter.com/TNUOGxjyN9

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 31, 2019

Rookie guard Sophie Cunningham’s kicks depict a day on the water and honor all of the women in her family.

Sophie chose all the women in her family for her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes.

She chose a lake scene to remind her of some of her favorite memories with her family and in the clouds are the names of all the women in the Cunningham family. pic.twitter.com/fiFRcghsRJ

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 31, 2019

Forward Sancho Lyttle’s Nike Hyperdunks recognize her mom and her grandma. Alongside Wonder Woman logos, Lyttle added her mom’s quote “Don’t give up until you’re finished” printed across the heels.

Sancho Lyttle honored her mom and grandma on her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration night shoes.

The shoe features:
▪️ The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
▪️ Wonder Woman logos
▪️ Her mom's quote, “Don’t give up until you’re finished." pic.twitter.com/3V2jK9j4Gn

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 28, 2019

For guard Yvonne Turner, one shoe features singer Taylor Swift, while the other depicts bright yellow sunflowers and a cross in honor of her grandma.

Yvonne Turner chose her grandma and @taylorswift13 for her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes. pic.twitter.com/SduuleHmRc

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 1, 2019

Rookie forwards Alanna Smith and Brianna Turner customized pairs of Nike Kyrie 5’s. Smith paid tribute to two Australian women she idolized — her mom and former basketball player Lauren Jackson.

Alanna chose two strong Australian women for her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes, Her Mum and Lauren Jackson.

Both are represented with their names and the Australian flag on the shoe. pic.twitter.com/Nsq6QKoO4s

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 2, 2019

Meanwhile, Turner’s gold and black scheme honors tennis star Serena Williams and her mom. The shoe that commemorates her mom has a police badge to symbolize her mom’s work in the justice system.

.@_Breezy_Briii chose her mom and @serenawilliams for her @AZLottery Women of Inspiration shoes. pic.twitter.com/7YYHeW3C5K

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 2, 2019

Essence Carson chose to honor her mom, grandma and Rutgers women’s basketball coach Vivian Stringer who was the first African American college basketball coach to reach the 1,000 wins mark.

.@Pr3pE chose three women for her shoes that have all played a major role in her life: her Mom, Grandma and @RutgersWBB coach Vivian Stringer, who is the first African American college basketball coach to win 1,000 games.@AZLottery | Women of Inspiration pic.twitter.com/nvMTRv11Km

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 28, 2019

The Mercury will show off their kicks Tuesday when they take on the Seattle Storm at home at 7 p.m.

Follow @Kaci_Demarest