Sophie Cunningham Defends Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Betting Ad Facing Backlash: “Why Are Girls Mad?”

The FIBA Women’s World Cup just concluded, and so did a fantastic battle at the US Open women’s singles final. Still, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka aren’t the most-talked-about women right now. Even the much-talked-about Sophie Cunningham is not getting the most traction.

A certain Sydney Sweeney is currently holding that mantle. The Hollywood star’s commercial for Novig, a sports prediction market, has managed to create a storm, and female athletes are willingly dragging themselves into it.

It so happens that the actress, known for her tendency to flirt with controversy, managed to stoke some more with her risque appearance while using sporting goods to cover up her ‘assets.’

Since then, hordes of female athletes across the globe have come out to slam Sweeney and Novig for objectifying them. To this, Sophie Cunningham had this to say about the outrage while speaking on her podcast:

Why are girls mad? That is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad? Of course that’s going to draw attention.

The 30-year-old acknowledged that she met Sweeney at a NASCAR event last year. She may not be friends, but felt that the outrage was pointless since everyone is well aware of how the actor has built her career.

Cunningham did admit that she did not particularly like the Novig commercial. But she was not surprised, knowing what Sweeney has done to build her brand.

The Indiana Fever star believes that since the ad was targeted at men, female athletes should not be bothered. It is not designed to embarrass women, but rather to lure that side of the population who use betting sites.

Sophie Cunningham advises female athletes to embrace themselves

After talking about why female athletes should not be bothered about the Sydney Sweeney Novig commercial, Sophie Cunningham then went on to talk about how her peers should not allow this to make them feel inferior or insecure.

You’ve got to embrace your power… Don’t shrink to make other people feel better about themselves.

Sophie Cunningham said

The Missouri native pointed out that all female athletes are bound to stick out due to their above-average features. They will always be looked at in a different light.

But it is also up to them to embrace themselves and be the best version they can. Only then can such stigma surrounding women’s sports and how they should be viewed change.

Cunningham added that if all they do is complain about such situations as the Sydney Sweeney controversy, it will not help change the image everyone has of them.

Sophie Cunningham and her Fever teammates have to finish regular season strong

The controversy aside, Cunningham and her Indiana Fever teammates are focused on their four games remaining in this regular season. If they lose any of them, they risk sliding down the standings and facing a tougher opponent in the first round.

Their first game will be against an injury-depleted Toronto Tempo. That should help them get back to playing at their best. They will need that momentum since the final three games are not going to be easy.

A game against the gritty Washington Mystics and two against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx might not be the best way a team would like to end their season.

Those games make it the toughest schedule any playoff contender will face. Therefore, the odds are stacked against them to maintain or improve from the fifth place they currently occupy.

To help that goal, Cunningham will hope that her teammates, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, carry their form from the FIBA World Cup, as they have not been able to practice with the rest of the team during the break.

Also Read:

• Caitlin Clark Showers Praise for Longtime Rival and USA Teammate Angel Reese: “We’re Both Fiery Competitors”
• Caitlin Clark Benching Sparks Backlash, Fans Shut Down Head Coach’s Critics With Facts