Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham defends comments on transgender athletes amid criticism
Sophie Cunningham reiterated her stance that transgender women should not compete in women's sports, refusing to apologize and drawing further backlash ahead of a game against the Connecticut Sun.
Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham faced renewed criticism on Wednesday after she again declined to apologize for remarks made in a recent ESPN interview about transgender athletes. The player said she believes protecting "young girls in sport" from competing against "biological men" is "common sense" and said she would "always believe in that" when speaking to reporters before the Fever's matchup with the Connecticut Sun.
Cunningham told ESPN that she had received negative feedback about allegedly hating trans people, which she denied, adding that she wants to "extend love" while also speaking truth about protecting young female athletes. She described her political views as centrist, saying she agrees and disagrees with positions on both sides.
When asked if she understood why some considered her comments derogatory, Cunningham said she does not dislike anyone and that her opinion had not changed. She emphasized a commitment to "protect children" and to stand by her statements.
The remarks prompted a wave of responses on social media, with several users calling for disciplinary action by the WNBA and accusing Cunningham of using anti-trans rhetoric. Sports commentator Chris Williamson described the comments as "repugnant" and questioned the framing of protecting children from "biological men." Other commenters labeled the statements as a "dog whistle" and demanded a suspension.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates within professional sports about the inclusion of transgender athletes and the reactions of players and fans to related commentary.