Sophie Cunningham has become one of the most polarizing figures in the WNBA after sharing her opinion on transgender women in sports.
The Indiana Fever star is receiving fierce support from XX-XY Athletics, which is conducting rallies advocating for the cause.
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XX-XY Athletics Founder Reveals Plans to Honor Sophie Cunningham With Another Rally
Jennifer Sey, a former gymnast and founder of XX-XY Athletics, has been leading the support for Cunningham. Earlier this week, she announced plans to organize a rally outside Target Center in Minneapolis ahead of the Fever-Lynx game on Sunday (tip-off at 1 p.m. ET).
Dubbed “Sophie Night,” the rallies have taken over arenas ahead of Fever games since the All-Star break. Rallies were held in Portland and Seattle as the Fever played the two teams on the road earlier this week, with several protesters lending their support for Cunningham and others rallying against her message.
Sey and fellow activists have been voicing their support for Cunningham, who sparked a nationwide debate last month after claiming that trans athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
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“We just want to honor Sophie and thank her, because it really is meaningful in this fight,” Sey told Fox News ahead of the rally.
Despite the polarizing debate surrounding trans athletes and whether they should be allowed to compete in women’s sports, Sey is determined to ensure that their protest stays peaceful.
“I think there will be more people there than there were in Seattle, just because now there’s been so much attention put on Seattle. And I think there could be more contentiousness. But our intent is to be, of course, very peaceful and nice,” Sey added.
Sey founded XX-XY Athletics in 2024. The sports apparel company aims to protect women by campaigning against the inclusion of trans women in sports.
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Cunningham also thanked her supporters earlier this week, hailing them for their “bold” and “courageous” attempts to make their voice heard.
Amid the attention she has drawn off the court, Cunningham is also enjoying a productive year on the court. The Missouri alum is averaging 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 steals per game off the bench for the Fever this season.
The Fever will go into the Lynx matchup on a five-game winning streak. The run has seen Caitlin Clark and co. move up to fourth place in the WNBA standings.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
