WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has joined the list of pro-athletes to comment on Sydney Sweeney’s controversial advert.Sweeney has come under fire for featuring in a promotional campaign for US sports betting site Novig.Sydney Sweeney appears almost fully nude in multiple photos and videos in a new Novig advertInstagram / Sydney Sweeney / NovigIn the advert, the actress is wearing little to no clothing, covering herself with sports equipment.Cunningham has no issue with controversial Sweeney adMany female athletes have criticized the advert’s over-sexualisation of women in sport, with Sweeney drawing backlash for her involvement in the short video.Team GB sprinter Amy Hunt was among the first athletes to criticize Sweeney, while four-time Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus described it as ‘infuriating’.For Cunningham, however, the situation called for a very different reaction.Known for her bold style and outspoken personality, the Indiana Fever guard offered a far more nuanced take, defending the right of women to leverage their image on their own terms.“I have so many takes. But first of all, does she even gamble on sports? It’s so unauthentic,” Cunningham said in the latest episode of her ‘No Hesitation’ podcast.“Am I surprised how she represented the brand? That’s what she made her whole career off. “Don’t get me wrong, 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. “I think it’s like, what are we doing? But again, I’m not surprised. “That’s what she’s known for. She’s making her money. Go do your thing, sis.Amy Hunt immediately took aim at Sweeney after falling just short of a medal at the World Athletics Ultimate ChampionshipsGettyCunningham defended Sweeney’s ad campaignGettySweeney has had starring roles on The White Lotus, Anyone But You and EuphoriaGetty“But 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. Again, do I agree with it? Morally, I think it’s kind of weird, but each to their own. Go do your thing, sis.”How Sweeney responded to backlash Sweeney, whose big break came in the popular television series Euphoria, followed by the 2025 film Christy, a biopic about the legendary female boxer Christy Martin, hit back at her critics, sharing a series of pictures of female athletes who have also posed nude in their careers.Sweeney posted nude campaigns of sporting greats Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Caroline Wozniacki.She also posted male athletes Myles Garrett, Rob Gronkowski and Jason Kelce who have posed nude during their careers.Sweeney’s response pointed to what she sees as a double standard in sports media.