Sophie Cunningham Weighs In on Sydney Sweeney's Controversial Gambling Ad

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stated that she received numerous messages asking for her opinion on the recent controversial advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney for the sports gambling company Novig. Sweeney posed nude for the ad.

During an appearance on the "No Hesitation" podcast, Cunningham addressed the ad, noting that she was not surprised by Sweeney's involvement given the company's target demographic. "I have so many takes. But first of all, does she even gamble on sports? It’s so unauthentic," Cunningham said. She added, "I like her. 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."

Cunningham expressed confusion as to why some women were upset by the advertisement. "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," she stated. Cunningham acknowledged that while she morally found the ad "kind of weird," she supported Sweeney's right to participate in it.

Cunningham clarified that she did not believe the Novig ad constituted an attack on 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," she said. "I don’t think the ad was coming for women in sport. ... I just want girls to know, don’t shrink. Don’t shrink to make other people feel better about themselves when you’re born to stick out."

She suggested that while the ad might initially seem discouraging to some women who have worked to gain respect in sports, it ultimately does not detract from their progress. "This has nothing to do with us," Cunningham concluded.

Actress Sydney Sweeney is an equity holder in Novig. The ad, titled "Novig is Just Sports," features Sweeney nude, with her body obscured by sports paraphernalia. The campaign has drawn criticism from several female athletes, who argue it sexualizes women and undermines the advancements made by women in sports. Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky told Front Office Sports that the company's focus is on sports prediction markets and that Sweeney, as an actress, was communicating a story. Cunningham mentioned meeting Sweeney briefly at a NASCAR event.