White House press secretary backs WNBA player Sophie Cunningham on transgender athlete issue
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after the player voiced opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that she supports Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after the player publicly expressed concerns about transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. Leavitt told reporters that men should not compete in women’s competitions and praised Cunningham for speaking her view.
"Men should not be playing in women's sports. It's completely ludicrous that anyone could support that," Leavitt said, adding that the criticism Cunningham has received from some political figures does not reflect public opinion.
Cunningham, who discussed her stance in an interview with ESPN, said she has faced negative feedback but maintains that her comments were not intended as an attack on transgender people. She emphasized a desire to protect young female athletes and stressed that she believes in extending love while speaking what she considers to be factual.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
Cunningham reiterated her position ahead of the Fever’s game against the Connecticut Sun, stating that she will continue to voice her beliefs while affirming that she does not dislike anyone and believes there is room for everyone in the sport.