Sophie Cunningham did not shy away when Colin Cowherd took the conversation into more personal territory during an appearance on his podcast. While discussing the Indiana Fever guard, Cowherd paused before describing her as something of a “sex symbol” in the WNBA, first explaining his respect for women and noting that he has a wife and daughters. He said he admires women who can be tough and competitive while also being comfortable embracing their feminine side.
Cunningham handled the moment without hesitation, responding to Cowherd’s remarks rather than allowing the conversation to become awkward. The discussion also touched on the attention she has received since entering the spotlight, with Cunningham standing out for her personality, humor and willingness to embrace her growing profile. Her appearance on Cowherd’s Volume podcast network highlighted the different approach she has taken to the increased attention surrounding her WNBA career.
Sophie Cunningham Reacts to Colin Cowherd’s ‘Sex Symbol’ Remark
Sophie Cunningham has never appeared uncomfortable with the attention that has followed her since becoming a prominent figure in the WNBA. During an appearance on Colin Cowherd’s podcast, the Indiana Fever guard addressed the conversation around her image and popularity, with Cowherd describing her as something of a “sex symbol” in the league. The moment initially took an awkward turn when Cowherd hesitated, but Cunningham quickly encouraged him to finish his thought. “Just say it,” Cunningham interrupted. When Cowherd finally said “Sex symbol,” she laughed and replied, “That is way better, I thought you were gonna go somewhere completely different.”
Cowherd had already praised Cunningham’s personality before the podcast was released, calling her unusually open and authentic compared with other athletes he had interviewed. “Just did a pod w @sophaller Never had a pod with an athlete that was this honest and authentic. Totally refreshing. I’ll release it tonight,” he wrote on X. The conversation then moved toward how Cunningham approaches her femininity while competing in a sport where athletes can face expectations about how they should present themselves.
Cunningham made it clear that she has no interest in hiding that side of her personality. “For me, the reason why I really lean into that is, first of all, I’ve always been super girly. Since a little girl, I’ve always loved to dress up. I love dresses. I love high heels. I love all of that,” she explained. She added that she believes basketball players should not feel pressured to choose between being feminine and being tough on the court.
“For some reason, our society, if you play basketball, you can’t dress that way, or you can’t be girly. No one’s ever said it, but it’s like, they kind of feel that you can’t be both. Screw all that. Yes, you can. You can be girly, and you can go out and kick someone’s ass,” Cunningham said. She also stressed that there is no single way for female athletes to express themselves, saying she respects players who prefer a more masculine style and do not enjoy dressing up, wearing heels or makeup.
Sophie Cunningham Embraces Femininity While Inspiring the Next Generation
“You can go and dress a little more masculine and go out there and still kick ass,” Cunningham said. “Like, there’s not one way to do it right. And so, for me, I just, um, I know my lane. I’m going to stay in my lane.” For Cunningham, the message extends beyond her own image, as she believes young girls watching her should feel free to pursue basketball without giving up the parts of their personality they enjoy.
“I know that I have a lot of young girls who are girly, who are raised like I was, who have aspirations to be where I’m at, (who) are like, ”Can I do both?’” she told Cowherd. “Can I still be girly, get my nails done, have my hair done and dress up? And, you know, kind of look real hot coming into a game and then go be sweaty and work hard?’ Yes, you can.” For Cunningham, embracing both sides of her personality is not a contradiction but an important part of who she is.
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