Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has weighed in on the controversy surrounding actress Sydney Sweeney’s new advertisement for sports betting company Novig, pushing back against critics who have attacked the ad.
Cunningham addressed the topic during an appearance on the No Hesitation podcast this week, saying she has mixed feelings about the ad itself but no issue with Sweeney doing it.
“I have so many takes. But first of all, does she even gamble on sports? It’s so unauthentic. Am I surprised how she represented the brand? That’s what she made her whole career off. Don’t get me wrong, I like her,” Cunningham said.
She said she admires Sweeney for staying true to her public image despite the criticism.
“She sticks to her guns, and she does her thing, and she’s her. Props to her. Do I like it? Like that particular ad? Not really. I think it’s like, what are we doing? But again, I’m not surprised. That’s what she’s known for. She’s making her money. Go do your thing, sis,” Cunningham told the podcast audience.
Cunningham also questioned why the ad has sparked backlash, particularly from women.
“But why are girls mad? That is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad? It is a gambling ad: men, sports, pretty much naked women. Of course, that’s going to draw attention. Again, do I agree with it? Morally, I think it’s kind of weird, but each to their own. Go do your thing, sis,” she added.
The WNBA star said she disagreed with fellow female athletes who have criticized the ad, arguing it doesn’t undermine women in sports.
“At the end of the day, I’m really loving seeing all these girls who are powerful, strong, showing young girls what it looks like to be an athlete. I don’t think the ad was coming for women in sport,” she said.
Cunningham urged women not to let the controversy diminish their own sense of self.
“Don’t shrink to make other people feel better about themselves when you’re born to stick out,” she said. “I will say, though, I can understand when you first see that ad that, like, it could kind of deflate women, because it’s like we’ve worked so hard to get a little bit of respect around here. But then when you really think about it, it’s like, screw it, let that girl do her thing. This has nothing to do with us.”
The Novig ad is the latest in a string of controversies for Sweeney. In 2025, she faced backlash over an advertisement for American Eagle jeans after critics accused her of promoting white nationalist messaging with a line about having “good jeans.” A USA Today commentator has argued that criticism of Sweeney’s latest ad stems from her being a registered Republican.
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