WNBA union denounces transgender hate following Sophie Cunningham backlash

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association denounced “hate, abuse, and demonization” of the transgender community in a statement Friday amid public uproar over Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham‘s recent stance against trans participation in women’s sports.

In its statement, the union called on fans to report anyone spreading hateful rhetoric at games. It did not reference Cunningham by name or weigh in on whether trans people should be able to compete freely, but stated broadly that the union exists to “protect women’s sports while creating transformational change.”

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“Hate, abuse, and demonization of any group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm,” the statement said. “We will continue to have hard conversations. But we will not be used as political pawns. Support the Players. Support the Fans.”

Cunningham became a central figure on the issue after ESPN quoted her in a July 21 story as saying she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

The matter gained additional traction when Cunningham reiterated her stance a day later.

“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said before the Fever‘s July 22 win over the Connecticut Sun. “And I think I’ll always believe in that.”

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Though the Fever guard later said she is “not a very political person,” and that she has “never once stated that I hated the trans community,” her remarks have prompted competing rallies by critics and supporters outside Fever games. Later, she posed for a picture with Riley Gaines, a Fox News personality and former collegiate swimmer who has become a face of efforts to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports.

Some prominent WNBA figures have spoken out against Cunningham’s comments. Celeste Keaton, a co-owner of the Seattle Storm, was suspended and fined for an interaction with two teenage girls inside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena last week. The girls, who sat courtside during the game and held up signs supporting Cunningham, said Keaton approached them, cursed and called them insane during the game.

Cunningham was booed throughout the Fever’s game at the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, during which Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wore a shirt declaring “Trans kids belong.”

Cunningham, in turn, has criticized the reaction to her comments, calling it a distraction and saying the WNBA should embrace the moment to prove it cares about diversity and inclusion.