During an interview on "The Colin Cowherd Podcast," WNBA player Sophie Cunningham was unexpectedly described by host Colin Cowherd as the league's "sex symbol." The conversation, initially intended to discuss the rebranding of Cunningham's podcast, took a turn when Cowherd posed the question.
Cunningham, who recently addressed the topic of transgender athletes in women's sports, was promoting the rebranding of her podcast from "Show Me Something" to "No Hesitation." The revamped podcast will feature basketball trainer Drew Hanlen as a co-host, shifting away from her childhood friend and "Summer House" star Will West.
When Cowherd began to phrase his question, searching for words, Cunningham encouraged him to be direct. "Just say it," she replied. "I don't care." Cowherd then stated, "Sex symbol," and asked if that was an accurate description.
"That is way better," Cunningham responded. "I thought you were gonna go somewhere completely different."
Cowherd also commented on Cunningham's physical play and her willingness to engage opponents, noting her role as a protector for Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. He also remarked on her style entering the arena, suggesting a duality of toughness and fashion.
Cunningham, who has been a prominent figure in discussions surrounding transgender athletes, has also garnered attention for her off-court style. She was featured in this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and made an appearance as an impromptu ring girl at UFC 329. Cunningham expressed her view that athletes, particularly in basketball, should not feel limited in their ability to embrace femininity alongside their athletic pursuits. "For some reason, our society, if you play basketball, you can’t dress that way, or you can’t be girly," she said. "No one’s ever said it, but it’s like, they kind of feel that you can’t be both. Screw all that. Yes, you can. You can be girly, and you can go out and kick someone’s ass."