WNBA player Sophie Cunningham is once again saying what other athletes won’t. This time, she’s addressing the female outrage toward actress Sydney Sweeney’s risqué sports gambling ad for the company Novig.
“Why are girls mad?” Cunningham asked on her podcast “No Hesitation” on Thursday.
Multiple female athletes, from amateurs to Olympians, denounced Sweeney’s naked performance in the sports betting advertisement, arguing that the 42-second commercial is setting women’s sports back. The furious group rushed to social media to share videos of themselves competing or training, saying that they represent what women’s sports look like, not Sweeney’s ad.
The only problem is Sweeney wasn’t trying to be an athlete. She was promoting an app that is only for sports gambling.
Thankfully, Cunningham — who often has the common-sense opinion — saw through the performative outrage.
“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 said.
Cunningham made it clear that she isn’t encouraging girls to strip down, adding that there are actual issues setting women’s sports back, and Sweeney’s ad...