Steph Curry Buys Lemonade At Girl’s Stand, Returns The Next Day To Surprise Her

Steph Curry surprises Michigan girl with shoes and ‘best day of my life’

STANDISH, MI — Not everyone in Brynlee Walker’s first-grade class were aware of Steph Curry before last month.

That’s because Brynlee met Curry during the NBA All Star weekend in February, when the Golden State Warriors star surprised the 7-year-old basketball fan with an hour-long, in-person visit, answering a letter she sent him weeks earlier.

“It was the best day of my life,” said Brynlee, of Standish.

Brynlee’s very-special visit with her most-favorite basketball player was captured in an Instagram video shared by Under Armour, the athletic apparel company that produces Curry’s brand line of shoes.

Curry’s meet-up with Brynlee came after she sent a letter to him — via Under Armour — asking if the company could create a pair of his shoes that would accommodate her special needs, said Karissa Walker, Brynlee’s mother. Brynlee was diagnosed with hypotonia, a condition that results in decreased muscle tone. She wears ankle braces, which can limit the kind of shoes she wears, particularly when she laces up for the various youth basketball league games she plays.

UnderArmor representatives responded to Brynlee and her basketball-loving family, which planned to travel to Indianapolis for the 2024 NBA All Star weekend festivities in February.

Brynlee, her parents and her three siblings were asked by Under Armour to show up at one of the All Star weekend gathering sites in Indianapolis, where fans participated in NBA-themed activities prior to the Sunday, Feb. 18, game. Walker said they were under the impression Brynlee would receive “some gifts.”

She did.

And then some.

The exchanged was captured on video, including when Brynlee at one point was asked to cover up her eyes with her hands. When she pulled her hands away, she saw Curry standing there with shoes from his branch of Under Armour apparel, known as Curry Brand.

“Hello there,” Curry said to her. “How are you? It’s very nice to meet you. Thank you for coming.”

Walker said her daughter by nature is outgoing, but in that meeting, the 7-year-old at first appeared speechless as she shook Curry’s outstretched hand.

“I was just thinking about it,” Brynlee later told MLive, explaining her initial speechlessness. “I was thinking, ‘What the heck?’”

Curry spent about an hour with Brynlee. They talked about memorable moments during Curry’s games and commercials where he appeared. The two also played air hockey and Pop-a-Shot, where she showed one of the world’s greatest basketball shooters her own hooping abilities.

“He said I had good (shooting) form,” the 7-year-old told MLive.

Brynlee said she considered Curry her favorite basketball player, even before their meeting. During her youth league games, she sometimes imitates Curry’s famous on-court mannerisms, including his made-shot celebrations.

“He’s my favorite player because he’s the best shooter and he’s really good at three pointers,” Brynlee told MLive.

Now she has more reasons to idolize Curry. Brynlee said she does not plan to wear the Curry Brand shoes he gifted her. Those will stay fresh as souvenirs.

But she likely will own another pair of Curry Brand shoes, built for her needs.

Under Armour officials said the organization in the coming months plans to invite Brynlee and her family to the company’s Baltimore headquarters.

Under Armour plans for Brynlee test out adapted shoe designs to fit her braces comfortably. The organization plans to produce multiple shoe options for Brynlee and her younger sister, Nova, who has the same condition.

In the meantime, Brynlee said she is enjoying the attention she is receiving as video of her meet-up with Curry spreads on social media. The video this week also was uploaded to TikTok.

Brynlee said some of her first-grade classmates in Standish didn’t know about Curry’s fame, but since the two of them shared such a public connection, they are catching up to speed on his significance.

“He’s just the best,” Brynlee said.

Her letter — unedited by MLive — that led to meeting Curry reads as follows.

“Dear Steph,

My name is Brynlee Walker. You are my most favrite basketball player in the world. I practice free frows and ballhandeling skills every day so I can be as good as you. For Christmas mom and dad got us tickets to the NBA All Stars practice. Not the game because it was too much money. I hope I see you there at the practice or the Crossover Night.

Could you please help me with something? I was born with Hypotonia. Its kind of bad in my feet. When I was little I had to ware a helmet and braces on my feet. Now I have to start wareing them again. I am super sad because I cant ware my Currys anymore. I am hoping you could see if Under Armour could make basketball shoes that my braces can fit in. Mom said they do’nt make basketball shoes that work with braces. Could you please help me? Right now I am 7 years old. Hopefuley I wont have to ware them forever. I have gotten a lot better at basketball and I want to keep geting better. My braces hurt my feet but I hope you can help me get good shoes to make it better.

Love, Brynlee Walker your biggest fan.”

The 7-year-old girl’s letter included a drawing of Brynlee and Curry — distinguishable by his No. 30 jersey — playing basketball together.