Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham urges return to basketball focus amid controversy
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Sophie Cunningham said she wants the team's attention to stay on the court after her remarks on transgender athletes generated nationwide debate and protests.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham told reporters Wednesday that she wants the conversation to shift back to basketball after her comments on transgender athletes sparked a national debate and several protests.
"I want to get back to basketball," Cunningham said, adding that the interview about the issue was a distraction from the high level of play in the WNBA. She noted that the Fever have won five of their last six games and lead the league in points per game and offensive rating.
Cunningham said the media often focuses on topics other than the sport itself. "WNBA media, all we ever do is cover everything except basketball," she said.
The player previously expressed concern about protecting women's sports, a phrase commonly used in discussions about policies that restrict transgender participation. She clarified that she has not expressed hatred toward trans individuals and emphasized her desire to protect young female athletes.
Recent games have seen mixed reactions from fans, including booing in Minnesota and a "trans rights are human rights" T-shirt worn by a Seattle Storm player. Additional rallies are planned in Chicago and New York.
The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, signed in March, states that only players who are women may compete, but it does not define the term or outline a policy for transgender or intersex athletes. The league has not provided further clarification.