Supporters of Sophie Cunningham rally outside Portland Fire game as fans boo her inside arena
Women’s-rights advocates gathered outside the Moda Center before the Portland Fire’s WNBA game, while the player faced boos from some spectators inside the venue.
Supporters of WNBA forward Sophie Cunningham assembled outside the Moda Center in Portland on Friday before the Fire’s game against the Indiana Fever. The rally was organized by the Women Are Real coalition, which said it was standing in solidarity with Cunningham and other female athletes.
"We are here today in solidarity with those girls who were berated in Seattle, in solidarity with Sophie Cunningham, and in solidarity with all female athletes," said activist Amy E. Sousa, a spokesperson for the group. The gathering included former Olympian Inga Thompson, attorney Kara Dansky and other local participants, arriving about 90 minutes before tip-off. Inside the arena, Cunningham was met with audible boos each time she touched the ball, while some fans displayed trans and LGBTQ+ pride flags. "I'm here to play basketball, but I'm also here to be me, and I'm not going to dim my light just because maybe people don't agree with that," Cunningham said before the game. The event also saw a small counter-protest by individuals wearing apparel supporting transgender youth. No official statements have been released by the Portland Fire or the arena regarding the incidents.