Lynx coach Reeve wears "Trans Kids Belong" shirt after debate with Fever player

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve appeared in a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt during Sunday’s game against the Indiana Fever, a match that followed a heated pre-game conversation between Reeve and Fever forward Sophie Cunningham. When asked for details, Reeve declined to comment, saying only that both participants recognize their public platforms and share a desire to educate, though they may disagree on some points.

During the broadcast, TV analyst Rebecca Lobo described Reeve’s remarks as “incredibly thoughtful.” Reeve criticized the narrative that transgender athletes are the primary issue in women’s sports, calling it “problematic.” She emphasized that protecting transgender children is a human-rights matter and asserted that “every kid has a right to sports regardless of gender-diverse or transgender status.”

Reeve added that the discussion becomes more nuanced at the collegiate and Olympic levels, after puberty, and called for finding common ground and inclusive solutions rather than outright exclusion. She warned the WNBA to prepare for the possibility of transgender players, asking whether the league would be ready or reactively resistant.

The WNBA currently requires that only women be eligible to play, a rule that has not yet been tested by a publicly known transgender athlete, according to ESPN. The Lynx defeated the Fever 108-100, while Cunningham scored three points in 23 minutes of play.