WNBA star Sophie Cunningham drops 'hot take' on Sydney Sweeney gambling ad controversy
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has delivered her verdict on Sydney Sweeney’s internet-breaking nude Novig advertisement, rhetorically asking: “Why are girls mad?”
The WNBA star claimed: “I like her... She sticks to her guns," while discussing Sweeney’s advertisement, in which she marketed betting brand Novig by playing sports in various states of undress.
READ NEXT: Serena Williams' millionaire husband lashes out at Sydney Sweeney after nude Instagram shade
Sophie Cunningham tells Sydney Sweeney ‘do your thing, sis’ amid nude advertisement fall-out
Cunningham’s words arrive after Serena Williams’ husband, a millionaire in his own right by co-founding Reddit, hit out at Sweeney after she posted his wife nude to Instagram.
The American actress did so after receiving widespread criticism for her Novig advertisement, prompting her to post nude photoshoots from various athletes, including Williams, to her Instagram.
Advert
Cunningham, who has long been rumoured to share Sweeney’s political affiliation, took a measured approach in her criticism of the actress, telling her: “Do your thing, sis.”
During an episode of the Indiana Fever guard’s podcast, No Hesitation, she said: “"I have so many takes, but first of all, does she even gamble on sports? Like, it's just so inauthentic… [but] I like her.
"Am I surprised [by] how she represented the brand? No. That's what she has made her whole career off [of]. Hey, don't get me wrong — I like her... She sticks to her guns, and she does her thing, and she's her.
“Props to her,” Cunningham continued. “Do I like that particular ad? Not really... But, again, I'm not surprised. That's what she's known for, so she's going to do that. She's making her money. Go do your thing, sis.
The 30-year-old, who recently caused controversy herself by advocating for transgender women athletes to be kept out of the WNBA, and other women’s sports, then delivered her “hot take.”
“Here's my hot take... Why are girls mad?” questioned Cunningham. “Like, that is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad? Like... of course that's going to draw attention.
"Again, do I agree with it? Morally, I think it's kind of weird, but to each their own. Go do your thing, sis,” concluded the Fever guard.
Cunningham’s podcast is sponsored by another betting platform in Polymarket, which recently co-opted fellow basketball star LeBron James. His deal with the company is rumoured to pay $15 million annually.
READ NEXT: LeBron James' new business venture cause a stir as fans call for NBA ban
How does Sophie Cunningham’s ‘anti-trans’ controversy link to Sydney Sweeney’s nude ad?
Cunningham and Sweeney are both rumoured to be Republicans, with the former recently posing for a photograph with prominent right-wing activist Riley Gaines.
That led retired women’s football star Megan Rapinoe, one of the many athletes that Sweeney posted a nude photoshoot of on her Instagram Stories, to claim: “That told me everything I needed to know.
“Seeing a picture of [Cunningham] with Riley Gaines… that told me everything I needed to know. Riley Gaines has made it her life’s mission to exclude trans people from public life.”
Rapinoe prodded at the Fever guard’s ‘anti-trans’ remarks, branding aspects of Cunningham’s language dangerous.
“[Cunningham] has claimed to love [transgender] people… you can hear it even in the language being used — that the root of trans exclusion is to protect young girls from men.
“It frames the conversation as if we’re protecting young girls from men being in WNBA locker rooms. Not happening. It villainises trans girls, as if they’re somehow magically older than their peers, or are men. When, in reality, they’re also young girls,” Rapinoe stated.
Cunningham’s WNBA rival DiJonai Carrington also chimed in, commenting “Clock it, Megan!” beneath Rapinoe’s Instagram post.
Less than a week later, Carrington hit Cunningham in the face with an aggressive flagrant foul in the WNBA, was ejected from the game, then later wrote ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’ and tagged the Indiana Fever on social media.
Amid persistent controversy surrounding Cunningham’s ‘anti-trans’ stance, the WNBA star clarified: “I said what I said. I think it’s common sense… It's really important to protect children.
“I’ll always believe that. I’m not a very political person, but I do have beliefs and morals. People will take it how they want to take it… but I feel very strongly about [it].”
Sweeney’s political affiliation is perhaps more proven than that of the Fever guard. In June 2024, after purchasing a mansion in Florida, the American actress registered as a Republican voter, according to information obtained by The Guardian.
That occurred mere months before Donald Trump won his second US presidency, and before Sweeney came under fire for another advertisement, with outfitter American eagle, that revolved around the phrase ‘Sydney Sweeney has great genes.’
Topics: WNBA
Kedar Bayley