Sophie Cunningham protests, explained: How Fever star’s transgender athlete comments sparked WNBA controversy

Sophie Cunningham protests, explained: How Fever star’s transgender athlete comments sparked WNBA controversy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The WNBA has been littered with controversies in 2026, from on-court skirmishes to viral off-court comments.

Few storylines have taken on more of a life of their own than the Sophie Cunningham saga, which started with the Fever guard speaking out against transgender women who were born male playing women’s sports.

Cunningham has faced severe opposition from many in and around the WNBA, as well as support from fans who have even rallied for her outside Indiana‘s games. Cunningham has dug in her heels and stood by her comments.

Here’s a look at what Cunningham said and the wave of reaction in response.

MORE:Why Sophie Cunningham doubled down on transgender athlete stance

Sophie Cunningham transgender athlete comments

Cunningham ignited a firestorm of controversy when she took a stance against transgender women born as biological men playing women’s sports in a feature by ESPN’s Hallie Grossman.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” Cunningham told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

Asked days later about her comments, Cunningham doubled down.

“I’m there to love, but I’m also there to love biological women,” Cunningham said. “I think that there are rights that need to be protected, and I’m going to stand true to that.”

Since that point, Cunningham has shown no signs of wavering and has continued to stand by what she said.

Sophie Cunningham protests

Cunningham’s comments have drawn mixed reactions, to no surprise, but there has been plenty of reaction both within the WNBA and from the league’s fans:

Celeste Keaton suspension and Seattle protests

Demonstrations both for and against Cunningham began in Seattle when the Fever faced the Storm. While a crowd showed up outside Climate Pledge Arena in support of Cunningham — between the two sides, there were no more than “a few dozen” individuals, according to ESPN — Storm center Stefanie Dolson drew attention by wearing a “Trans rights are human rights” shirt into the arena.

The real controversy took place inside the arena, where Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton earned a suspension and fine from the WNBA for accosting two 16-year-old girls who had showed up in support of Cunningham. One girl held a sign that read, “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls,” and the two wore XX-XY shirts from a brand that opposes transgender women born as biological men playing women’s sports.

The girls later said Keaton “screamed” at them and called them “f—ing insane” while invoking religion.

MORE:Projecting Mercury lineup with Kelsey Plum

Cheryl Reeve t-shirt and Minneapolis protests

When Cunningham and the Fever faced the Lynx in Minneapolis on Sunday, tensions seemed to reach a fever pitch.

A crowd outside the Target Center showed up in support of Cunningham, while others arrived in protest. “Dozens” of fans gathered near the entrance, according to NBC News, with one chanting, “Protect trans women.”

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, meanwhile, spoke to Cunningham on the court before the game and wore a shirt that read, “Trans kids belong,” under her jacket during the game. She said after the win that she was hoping to “educate.”

A day earlier, Reeve said Cunningham was perpetuating a “problematic” narrative and suggested the Fever guard’s comments had “threatened” the WNBA’s “safe spaces.”

“I don’t think we should feel like our safe spaces are being threatened,” Reeve told reporters. “That’s what I enjoy about the WNBA and I think we have to continue to safeguard that.”

Portland protests

Protests both for and against Cunningham followed the Fever to Portland for a July 31 game against the Fire, though there weren’t any major incidents in the often politically-charged city.

There was still a small crowd outside the arena, with ESPN noting that protests against Cunningham included “a man dressed as a frog” with a sign that read, “Trans people just want to live.”

MORE:Why NBA was forced to delete video showing bet between Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers

Sophie Cunningham rallies

At each of those stops, some fans have rallied outside the arena in support of Cunningham. Rallygoers were seen holding small signs, including ones that said, “Thank you Sophie!” and, “Yay girls! Go Girls!”

Many rallygoers wore XX-XY merchandise, a brand that supports Cunningham’s stance on transgender athletes. The brand is led by activist Jennifer Sey, who showed up in support of the Fever guard in Minneapolis.

What is Save Women’s Sports?

“Save Women’s Sports” has become more of a tagline than an organization itself. Frequently seen on signs held by those who oppose transgender women born as biological men playing women’s sports, “Save Women’s Sports” began in Minnesota as an organization seeking “to preserve biology-based eligibility standards for participation in female sports.

The organization isn’t active on social media anymore, however, and the mantle has been taken up in part by XX-XY Athletics, a clothing brand that promotes the same viewpoints on transgender athletes as Cunningham.

“We are unapologetic about our goal. We are here to protect women’s sports and spaces. Women deserve the opportunities that sports and single sex spaces provide,” XX-XY Athletics says about its mission. “Sex matters. It is the single biggest determinant of athletic performance. It is unfair and dangerous to allow males (XY) to compete in girls and women’s (XX) sports. For women to compete safely and fairly, women’s sports need to remain female. We’ll be here defending truth. And women and girls. Until that happens.”

When was Save Women’s Sports created?

Save Women’s Sports appears to have been founded in 2019, when social media activity began for the organization.

The coalition supported and promoted lawsuits against organizations that allowed transgender women born as biological men to play women’s sports, including the NCAA in the case of swimmer Lia Thomas. Save Women’s Sports’ members and supporters frequently posted pictures of themselves in Washington D.C. advocating for legislation in support of their position.

Who runs Save Women’s Sports?

Former powerlifter Beth Stelzer founded Save Women’s Sports. Stelzer has remained active in protest of transgender women born as biological men playing women’s sports and even testified in a recent high-profile Supreme Court case regarding transgener athletes.

Supreme Court transgender athlete ruling

On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled that states have the right to exclude transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports. The court weighed the legality of laws passed by Idaho and West Virginia, ruling in a 6-3 decision that they did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The court also ruled unanimously that the laws did not violate Title IX.

The laws, enacted by Idaho in 2020 and West Virginia in 2021, were initially struck down by federal courts.

The Supreme Court’s decision was supported by coalitions opposing the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, including XX-XY Athletics.

Are there any transgender players in the WNBA?

There are no transgender players in the WNBA. The WNBA did have a non-binary player, Layshia Clarendon, who last played in 2024, but Clarendon was born as a biological woman.

Source link