The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) released a statement on Friday, Aug. 7 denouncing transphobia and other forms of hate amid a surge of political attention toward the league.
The message was addressed “to everyone who loves this game,” and posted via social media.
Advertisement
“The WNBPA represents 200+ individual people with different lived experiences, cultures, lifestyles, and opinions.We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion,” the statement said.
“Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm. We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns.
“Support the Players. Support the Fans. At games, notify security if you witness hateful, violent, or abusive behavior. Online, report abusive posts and drown out the bots and bad actors. At home, tell your elected officials to strengthen Title IX.”
Demonstrators protest prior to the start of a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx quarter at Target Center on August 02, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sophie Cunningham of the Fever Cunningham has recently said she opposed transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.
The statement doesn’t name an inspiration, but comes nearly two weeks after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments on the idea of “protecting women’s sports” were published by ESPN.
Advertisement
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” Cunningham said. “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.”
Though no WNBA players publicly attacked or condemned Cunningham for those comments, three “Support Sophie Cunningham” demonstrations have taken place ahead of Fever games that followed her comments.
The Chicago Young Republicans and XX-XY Athletics announced they will host a fourth rally advertised to be in Cunningham’s support outside of the United Center ahead of the Fever’s Saturday, Aug. 8 road game against the Chicago Sky.
Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Aug. 5 he would encourage Cunningham to “keep speaking her mind.”
Advertisement
“We cannot take our country back; we cannot save the United States of America unless you have people of courage who are speaking their mind,” Vance added.
President Donald Trump‘s administration has enacted sweeping anti-transgender executive orders and federal policy changes, signing Executive Order 14201, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” on Feb. 5, 2025.
The directives work to provide government-wide definition recognizing only two sexes assigned at birth, restrict transgender inclusion in school and college sports under Title IX, target federal funding for gender-affirming care, and roll back federal non-discrimination protections.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: WNBA player’s union denounces transphobia, hate amid demonstrations
