WNBA star Sophie Cunningham refused to join the outrage campaign against actress Sydney Sweeney after critics attacked her latest provocative advertisement. Cunningham acknowledged that the ad wasn’t necessarily to her taste, but defended Sweeney’s right to capitalize on her image and dismissed claims that the campaign was an attack on female athletes. Her response to the controversy was simple: “Go do your thing, sis.”
The Indiana Fever guard addressed the controversy during an appearance on the “No Hesitation” podcast. The controversy revolves around a revealing advertisement Sweeney filmed for Novig, a sports-only prediction market. Several female athletes and other critics accused the company of sexualizing women and undermining efforts to win greater respect for women in sports.
The “Novig is Just Sports” campaign shows Sweeney posing with footballs, boxing gloves, basketballs, and other athletic equipment strategically covering her body. Critics responded by posting photos of female athletes competing and declaring, “This is what women in sport look like.” Sweeney, however, was appearing as an actress, Novig equity holder, and creative lead promoting a sports-prediction platform, rather than presenting herself as a professional athlete.
Cunningham began her response with some skepticism about how naturally Sweeney fit the product. “I have so many takes. But first of all, does she even gamble on sports? It’s so unauthentic,” Cunningham said, according to Breitbart News. “Am I surprised of how she represented the brand? No. That’s what she’s made her whole career off. Don’t get me wrong, I like her.”
The WNBA player credited Sweeney for remaining unapologetic despite the repeated public attacks aimed at her. “She sticks to her guns, and she does her thing, and she’s her. Props to her,” Cunningham said. She admitted that she didn’t particularly like the advertisement, but added, “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 also questioned why other women were so offended by a campaign plainly designed to attract attention from male sports bettors. “But why are girls mad? That is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad?” she asked. “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 to each their own. Go do your thing, sis.”
Watch Cunningham give her take on the Sydney Sweeney controversy here:
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The discussion shifted to athletes who argued that the advertisement diminished women’s standing in sports. Cunningham said she enjoyed seeing accomplished female athletes present themselves as strong role models, but rejected the claim that Sweeney’s commercial targeted them. “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 actually be an athlete,” she said. “I don’t think the ad was coming for women in sport.”
Sweeney faced a similar political uproar in 2025 after appearing in American Eagle’s “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign. Critics claimed that the advertisement’s play on “jeans” and “genes” carried racist or eugenic undertones, while supporters viewed the backlash as another strained attempt to manufacture a scandal around the actress. The latest dispute once again placed Sweeney at the center of an ideological fight over an advertisement built around her appearance.
Cunningham conceded that the initial sight of Sweeney’s campaign could frustrate women who’ve fought for recognition as athletes. She nevertheless urged women not to make themselves smaller to satisfy angry critics. “Don’t shrink to make other people feel better about themselves when you’re born to stick out,” Cunningham said. “But then when you really think about it, it’s like, screw it, let that girl go do her thing. This has nothing to do with us.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.