Title IX advocate Payton McNabb commends Sophie Cunningham and critiques WNBA stance on transgender inclusion

Activist Payton McNabb, who testified before Congress after sustaining a brain injury in a high school volleyball game, said Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s public comments on women’s sports are “courageous” and “important” as the issue gains attention in the WNBA. McNabb praised Cunningham for speaking out early in her career, noting that the backlash the player faces highlights the broader controversy over transgender participation in women’s athletics.

"What we've seen through Sophie Cunningham has been so courageous," McNabb told OutKick. "She’s getting vilified for literally saying what everyone already knows and thinks."

McNabb criticized Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve for wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt during a game and for supporting policies that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports. She argued that such positions create a “double standard” by demanding equity for female athletes while permitting men to occupy those same spaces.

"You can’t complain on one hand about not getting as much as the men and then on the next, you’re encouraging men to take over the very category you want separate from them," McNabb said.

The activist also referenced a French male athlete, Julie Tétart, as a potential example of how the issue could manifest in the WNBA, suggesting that a direct challenge on the court might force the league to reevaluate its policies.

McNabb urged star player Caitlin Clark, who has avoided the controversy, to use her platform to influence the next generation of female athletes, emphasizing that Clark’s success is rooted in Title IX protections.

"She’s the best player in the WNBA, and for her to take a stance would be huge for the next generation of girls," McNabb said.

Since her injury three years ago, McNabb has become an independent women’s-rights ambassador, using her experience to raise awareness about the impact of Title IX and to advocate for policies that preserve women’s sports for women.