“Too Soft”: Sophie Cunningham In Agreement with NBA Trainer About Coach’s Current Treatment Around Basketball Athletes

The coaching approach for male and female basketball players has come under scrutiny, with NBA trainer Drew Hanlen questioning whether female athletes are pushed hard enough to reach their potential. He believes coaches often hold back rather than challenge them as aggressively as their male counterparts. Sophie Cunningham agreed with Hanlen’s assessment, adding that women’s basketball needs a coaching culture built around accountability rather than protection from criticism. “Bring back hard coaching,” Cunningham said during a conversation with Hanlen on an upcoming episode of their No Hesitation podcast. The segment was clipped and posted to X.