Sophie Cunningham, a WNBA star, is comfortable admitting she doesn’t know Sydney Sweeney but says she understands her.
Sweeney has faced backlash for a recent “gambling” ad that sparked widespread criticism from female athletes globally. Cunningham posed the question: “Why are girls mad?”
Cunningham noted her phone was flooded with messages seeking her take on Sweeney’s latest campaign for Novig, which featured the actress posing nude except for sports equipment covering her private areas. The ad was quickly labeled a “black eye” for women in sports by female athletes who argued it does not reflect how they want to be portrayed. While many athletes were criticized as hypocrites after being reminded of their own questionable content, Cunningham appeared to see both sides of the issue.
Speaking on “No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen,” the WNBA star began with a humorous question: Does Sweeney “even gamble on sports?”
“It’s just so unauthentic,” Cunningham added. “You know what I mean? Like, am I surprised of how she represented the brand? No.”
The basketball player then engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of criticism and praise. “That’s what she’s made her whole career off,” Cunningham joked. “And hey, don’t get me wrong—I like her. Everyone knows she is beautiful. She is hot. She clearly has my chest.”
The 30-year-old gave Sweeney “props” but admitted she did not like the ad: “I think it’s like, I mean, like, what? Like, what are we doing? But again, I’m not surprised.”
Cunningham later turned her focus to athletes criticizing the ad, asking what they were upset about: “That is literally what she does,” she said. “Why is anyone mad?”
The discussion shifted when Cunningham acknowledged a moral aspect of the ad: “Again, do I agree with it? Uh, morally, I think it’s kind of weird, but, like, to each their own. Go do your thing, sis.”
But Cunningham pushed back, praising women for standing up for themselves and embracing their bodies: “broad shoulders” and thighs that touch. While Cunningham admitted she understands how Sweeney’s ad could “deflate women” and overshadow their accomplishments, she concluded: “Let that girl go do her thing.”
Drew Hanlen, the show’s co-host, approached the topic with a more nuanced perspective, arguing the issue is not “black and white” and thus difficult to take sides on. He noted that Novig anticipated significant backlash from women disappointed with the ad. Hanlen stated: “Their criticism should be replaced by celebrating women in sport. It’s about giving confidence to student athletes who don’t feel like they fit in.”
