Steph Curry has gone on record in support of gender equality (though we’ve yet to see any of that translate to equal or even higher pay for the WNBA). In fact, in an essay timed to coincide with Women’s Equality Day 2018, he wrote about the impact his mother, wife, and daughters have had upon his growing awareness and commitment to issues affecting equality:
“[O]ne lesson from that education that’s really stood out to me is: to always stay listening to women, to always stay believing in women, and — when it comes to anyone’s expectations for women — to always stay challenging the idea of what’s right.”
Well, Steph was presented with a new challenge this week, as a 9-year-old fan named Riley, coincidentally the same name as Curry’s eldest (and most famous) daughter, penned him a letter about his kid-sized Under Armour Curry 5 sneakers, which were previously only offered in boys’ sizes.
“I asked my dad to buy me the new Curry 5s because I’m starting a new basketball season,” Riley (Morrison) wrote to Curry, in a letter her father posted on Instagram. The two were “disappointed to see there were no Curry 5s under the girls section.”
“I know you support girl athletes because you have two daughters and you host an all girls basketball camp,” she continued. “I hope you can work with Under Armour to change this because girls want to rock the Curry 5's too.”
Curry got the message and instantly sought to remedy the issue with Under Armour. Within days, the Curry 5s were also listed under the girls offerings. In addition, Steph sent Riley her own pair of Curry 5s and shortlisted her for the Curry 6 as well, to help her #RuintheGame.
And if that’s not enough, Curry and Co. also asked Riley and her parents to clear their schedule for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019, when he (and presumably, Under Armour) have “something special in the works.”
In our experience, this seemingly minor sizing gaffe has been a longstanding issue; so much so that we’d stopped even batting an eye at occasionally having to shop for our coveted kicks in the men’s section. But from the mouths of babes often comes teachable moments—especially from little basketball-loving girls named Riley.