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Sophie Cunningham makes affectional plea to protect girls successful sports from biologic men
WNBA prima Sophie Cunningham shares her powerful connection astir opinionated up for girls' sports amidst criticism. She reiterates her committedness to truth and protecting young girls successful locker rooms and sports from competing against biologic men, contempt receiving antagonistic feedback astir her stance connected transgender athletes. This comes aft she retweeted a CBS Sports big years ago.
WNBA prima Sophie Cunningham sent shockwaves successful nan ongoing civilization warfare complete nan WNBA and trans athletes successful women's sports connected Tuesday aft revealing her stance connected nan rumor to ESPN.
Cunningham's caller statements sparked statement connected societal media aft she revealed she is successful support of protecting women's sports.
"I sewage a batch of antagonistic feedback astir maine hating trans. And I'm like, 'I ne'er erstwhile said that,'" Cunningham said.
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Jun 16, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever defender Sophie Cunningham (8) celebrates a made changeable successful nan first half against nan Toronto Tempo astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
"I deliberation that I americium present to widen love. But I besides deliberation pinch that emotion is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls successful a locker room, aliases young girls successful athletics who shouldn't person to spell against biologic men."
Many salient figures praised Cunningham for speaking out.
GOP politicians, including Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt, moreover chimed in.
Cunningham's connection besides garnered praise from athletes and activists progressive successful nan "save women's sports" activity including Riley Gaines, Jennifer Sey and Martina Navratilova, arsenic good arsenic different blimpish influencers.
However, Cunningham's statements besides prompted immoderate backlash from those who judge biologic antheral trans athletes should beryllium allowed to compete successful women's sports.
Some users compared Cunningham's return to that of Minnesota Lynx caput coach Cheryl Reeve, who precocious told reporters that she opposes bans connected trans athletes successful women's sports.
Cunningham antecedently garnered backlash from nan near successful March 2022 aft re-sharing a tweet from CBS Sports big Josh Pate astir nan contention surrounding erstwhile Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas competing connected nan women's team.
Indiana Fever defender Sophie Cunningham plays successful nan 2nd half against nan Los Angeles Sparks astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Ind., connected June 27, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
"Female collegiate athletes merit truthful overmuch amended than this," Pate’s tweet said.
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Cunningham faced truthful overmuch backlash complete nan re-share that she released a statement.
"To my teammates, friends, family, supporters and fans, you cognize that I guidelines pinch each people, particularly my chap athletes. I do not judge, but support each races, religions, intersexual preferences and gender equity. We each person a spot successful this world to compete and I dream we are capable to assistance everyone that opportunity fairly." she wrote.
Cunningham has emerged arsenic 1 of nan biggest stars successful nan WNBA complete nan past year, particularly among conservatives.
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Riley Gaines, who tied pinch Thomas astatine nan 2022 NCAA women's swimming championships, told Fox News Digital connected nan past time of June, aft nan U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold authorities laws that support biologic males retired of women's sports, that she hoped nan ruling would beryllium a "clarion call" for athletes for illustration Cunningham to speak retired successful support of protecting women's sports.
"Let this beryllium a clarion call, not conscionable to Simone, but to every, I deliberation particularly elite female athlete, master female athlete, nan likes of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Serena Williams, to nexus arms," Gaines said.
Jackson Thompson is simply a sports newsman for Fox News Digital covering captious governmental and taste issues successful sports, pinch an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited successful national authorities actions related to nan enforcement of Title IX, and successful bequest media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
