WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham pushed back on a loud backlash to Sydney Sweeney’s racy gambling ad, arguing critics missed the point of a campaign built for male bettors, not women’s sports.
Story Highlights
- Sweeney’s ad used sexualized images and drew sharp criticism from female athletes.
- Cunningham called the spot “inauthentic” but said outrage was overblown.
- She argued the ad targeted men and was not about women’s sports.
- Sweeney saw a brief drop in social followers during the uproar.
What Cunningham Said And Why It Matters
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said the women’s basketball world “overreacted” to Sweeney’s Novig gambling ad. On her podcast, she called the campaign “so inauthentic,” yet asked, “Why are girls mad?” She noted it was a gambling ad aimed at men, not a statement about women’s sports. She added that Sweeney is known for sexy roles and told her, “Go do your thing, sis,” while still calling the tone morally “weird” for her personally.
Cunningham’s bottom line was clear: a gambling company chose a famous actress to grab attention with sex appeal, and that choice does not define women’s athletics. She framed the spot as “men, sports, pretty much naked women,” a formula that has sold products for decades. Her take cut through a noisy debate by separating ad intent from broader fights about respect for female athletes and their achievements.
Why The Ad Sparked A Firestorm
Major outlets reported that Sweeney appeared nude or nearly nude, with sports gear covering her body. That look triggered pushback from Olympians and other athletes who said the ad sexualized women and set back progress in sports culture. The Associated Press and Cable News Network each described the imagery as highly sexualized and said the reaction spread quickly across social media, turning a brand play into a national flashpoint.
The heat also showed up in Sweeney’s metrics. USA Today reported she briefly lost hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers in the immediate days after the ad, a sign the backlash carried real reach online. Those swings do not prove the campaign failed, but they show the cost side of chasing viral attention. Visibility can spike, yet trust and affinity can drop when regular fans feel a line was crossed.
The Intent Versus The Message People Heard
Reporters and scholars have long tracked how gambling and sports ads use sexualized images to hook viewers. Studies of wagering ads found a steady use of gendered appeals and objectification. That history helps explain why many athletes saw Sweeney’s poses with footballs and basketballs as an old playbook that treats women as props. It also helps explain why critics quickly organized a counter-message showing real women in sport, not glamor shots.
Cunningham’s view did not dispute the sex-first design. She said the ad felt fake for a sports tie-in but still argued it should be judged as a gambling pitch to men, not a stand-in for women’s sports. That split matters. It suggests a brand can win attention while also inviting backlash if people think it trades on sports credibility it did not earn. So far, there is no sign of a legal violation or regulatory action tied to the ad’s content.
Free Speech, Adult Choice, And Culture Clarity
Conservatives can agree on two things at once. Adults can make and view edgy ads without censorship, and parents can call out companies that confuse kids and cheapen sports. Cunningham’s stance fits that balance. She defended Sweeney as an actress doing her job, questioned the sports tie, and urged people not to turn an ad into a verdict on women athletes. That is common sense in a culture that sells sizzle while families value substance.
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has a mixed take on Sydney Sweeney’s controversial NOVIG ad.
She called the sports connection “inauthentic” and said she doesn’t particularly like the ad, but questioned why so much anger is being directed at Sweeney herself: “Why are girls mad?”
Her… pic.twitter.com/05pueGrMz5
— Bhavesh Gujrati (@Bhaveshlivelife) September 21, 2026
Viewers deserve clarity. If a brand courts male gamblers with sex appeal, say so. Do not drape it in the language of women’s sports and merit. That bait-and-switch sparks anger and fuels claims of disrespect. The lesson for marketers is simple: shoot straight about who the ad is for, respect the game, and do not confuse the two. Cunningham’s measured pushback, even with her moral doubts, points toward that clearer, saner lane.
Sources:
nytimes.com, apnews.com, usatoday.com
