Sophie Cunningham has never been the one to shy away from saying what she thinks, even when she knows the reaction may not be unanimous. In fact, the Indiana Fever guard recently summed up her approach rather simply by saying, “You’re going to get hated. You’re going to get loved on. So that’s why you just kind of do what you want around here.” And it is this mindset of hers that came into focus again after Sydney Sweeney’s latest commercial sparked a heated conversation across the sports world.

The A-list actress became the face of a new Novig campaign promoting the sports prediction platform, where she used various pieces of sports equipment to clothe herself. The ad quickly drew criticism from several female athletes, who argued that it sexualized women in sports rather than highlighting athleticism. As a woman in sport known for blunt honesty, Sophie Cunningham was asked where she stood on the controversy. While critical of the ad’s approach, Cunningham emphasized respect for Sweeney’s willingness to be herself, as Cunningham said on the No Hesitation podcast on Thursday.

“I really like her, and you know what? She sticks to her guns, and she does her thing, and she’s her. So props to her. Do I like it? Like that particular ad. Not really. I think it’s, what are we doing? But again, I’m not surprised. That’s what she’s known for. So she’s going to do that. She’s making her money. Go do your thing, sis.”

Several female athletes like Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus and British sprinter Amy Hunt have pushed back against Sweeney’s ‘Just Sports’ ad. They have argued that the campaign sends the wrong message at a time when women’s sports have increasingly pushed for attention to center on athletes’ ability and accomplishments. Hunt, who was recently a guest on Good Morning Britain, elaborated on her stance.

“When we’re trying to provide role models for young people and young women in sport, we really want to show that it’s about what your body can do, not so much what it looks like.”

But Sophie Cunningham, who has also been a part of several professional modelling gigs including one for Sports Illustrated alongside Napheesa Collier, took the discussion a step further.

“But why are girls mad? That is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad? It is a gambling ad… Of course that’s going to draw attention. Again, do I agree with it? Morally, I think it’s kind of weird, but like to each their own. Go do your thing, sis.”

“But 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 actually be an athlete. I don’t think the ad was coming for women in sport,” she further added.

Cunningham, who met Sweeney at a NASCAR Cup event in Phoenix, Arizona last year, is no stranger to controversies herself.

She has been making headlines ever since her comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports and protecting young girls in the locker room. Sophie Cunningham faced massive backlash for her comments, with fans even booing her several times whenever she stepped on the court or touched the ball during the Indiana Fever games.

This even led to rallies held outside most of the Fever’s away games this season, with serious questions arising about the WNBA’s inclusion policy. Former NBA players like Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White went on to declare themselves for the 2027 WNBA draft, questioning the league’s policy on the matter. Throughout all of this, Sophie Cunningham has maintained that she wants to protect women and girls in sports while saying she does not hate transgender people.

So with another controversial sports conversation landing in her lap, Cunningham has once again chosen the same approach she outlined herself: say what she believes, acknowledge where she disagrees, and let everyone else decide how they feel about it.