Sophie Cunningham has never dodged a hot topic, and this week she finally addressed the one everyone kept asking about.

The Indiana Fever guard spent weeks fielding messages from fans demanding her take on Sydney Sweeney’s viral Novig commercial. When she finally answered on her podcast, her response was far more layered than a simple thumbs up or down.

Cunningham broke her silence on Thursday’s episode of No Hesitation, the podcast she co-hosts with NBA trainer Drew Hanlen. Before getting into how she felt about the ad itself, she raised a more basic question about Sweeney’s connection to the brand.

“The amount of text messages, DMs, comments of people wanting me to talk about the Sydney Sweeney ad. I have so many takes, but it’s just first of all, does she even gamble on sports? It’s just so unauthentic. You know what I mean? Like, am I surprised of how she represented the brand? No. That’s what she’s made her whole career off.”

That skepticism didn’t stop Cunningham from giving Sweeney her due. She made clear the criticism wasn’t personal.

“And hey, don’t get me wrong, I like her. She sticks to her guns, and she does her thing, and she’s her. So, props to her.”

Novig announced on Sept. 9 that Sweeney had joined the company as a strategic partner and equity holder, tying the campaign to an actual business stake rather than a one-off endorsement deal. The ad itself showed Sweeney only in sports gear as it cycled through basketball, football, and tennis, and it racked up more than 22 million views in its first 48 hours.

The attention also drew plenty of backlash. Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus and British sprinter Amy Hunt both criticized how the campaign framed women in sports, while gymnast Gracie Kramer posted her own competition footage online, captioned with a pointed contrast to Sweeney’s ad. That post alone pulled in more than a million likes.

Cunningham didn’t defend the ad, but she wasn’t interested in piling on either.

“Do I like it, that particular ad? Not really. I think, 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.”

Fans React To Sophie Cunningham’s Take On The Sydney Sweeney Controversy

Cunningham’s next comment really got people talking. Instead of questioning Sweeney’s choices, she turned the question back on the internet’s reaction.

“Why are girls mad? That is literally what she does. Why is anyone mad? 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 to each their own. Go do your thing, sis.”

The comment section split almost immediately. One fan felt Cunningham had summed up the whole debate.

“I think she said it pretty perfectly. I truly do see both sides to this whole controversy.”

Others took issue with what they saw as a contradiction. One commenter pointed out that Cunningham herself has leaned into a similar image.

“She also said she doesn’t agree with it while she does the same thing with her body? I mean, not hate, go do you, but she kinda was hating without actually saying it and she does the same s***.”

Another fan brushed off the entire discussion.

“It’s a job. It pays money. What’s your problem?”

A different reply skipped Sweeney altogether and aimed straight at Cunningham.

“The problem is caring what Sophie Cunningham thinks.”

Another fan added, “This is straight up hypocrisy.”

Sweeney has yet to respond to the criticism directly, though she shared images to her Instagram Stories of past athletes who appeared in similar magazine features, including Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, and Sue Bird. Novig CEO Jacob Fortinsky has also defended the campaign, framing it as a brand story rather than an athlete-driven endorsement.

Cunningham and the Fever are back on the court Friday night, but this debate looks far from settled.