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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

US women’s sports star Sophie Cunningham speaking up on defending women's sports

263 replies

fromorbit · 24/07/2026 08:05

Big development. In the US few big women's sports stars have dared to speak up in the defence of women having sports. Lots of coverage of this going viral. Demands that the WBNA [Women's Basketball league] take action against her.

Sophie Cunningham says it’s ‘common sense’ to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports

In the ESPN article, Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said before Indiana’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7464960/2026/07/22/sophie-cunningham-trans-comments-womens-sports/

Trump Whitehouse speaking up in Cunningham's support so getting political.
https://www.aol.com/articles/sophie-cunningham-backed-white-house-003500000.html

Despite the recent Supreme Court verdict which said women can have sports a lot of Democratic leading states are continuing to say they should not have their own sports, but only mixed sex competitions.

Likely to be an ongoing political issue and be a topic in the upcoming midterms.

Sophie Cunningham says it’s ‘common sense’ to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports

In an ESPN article, the Indiana Fever guard said that girls and women "shouldn't have to go against biological men."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7464960/2026/07/22/sophie-cunningham-trans-comments-womens-sports/

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fromorbit · 11/09/2026 08:48

‘Might Not Even Be in the League Next Year,’ ‘Give Her the Job’ — Basketball World Divided As Sophie Cunningham Makes Her Case To Be WNBA Commissioner

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/might-not-even-league-next-054504200.html

Sophie Cunningham completely rebrands podcast with new partner after ex co-host disagreed with her trans debate

https://www.dailymail.com/sport/wnba/article-16121855/sophie-cunningham-podcast-rebrand-trans-debate.html

‘Might Not Even Be in the League Next Year,’ ‘Give Her the Job’ — Basketball World Divided As Sophie Cunningham Makes Her Case To Be WNBA Commissioner

Following Cathy Engelbert’s announcement that this will be her final season as WNBA commissioner, the league is searching for new leadership. Sophie Cunningham has now playfully thrown her name into the hat as someone who could take over.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/might-not-even-league-next-054504200.html

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1984Now · 27/08/2026 12:48

Fantastic piece. Rapinoe is the one spreading panic and misinformation re her fake claims that intrusive inspections will be needed to exclude TIMs from female sports.
Not the females like these two writing the article. It's females being denied opportunities, not TIMs who can compete in male teams any time they want to.
This is why Cunningham's interjection is so critical, it's providing cover for females in less powerful positions to speak out clearly.
Rapinoe is a disgrace.

MarieDeGournay · 27/08/2026 09:48

Excellent article.
Megan Rapinoe is a huge disappointment - it's like she used up all her courage in coming out as lesbian, and then caved when the trans issue came up, whether because she really doesn't understand the underlying facts and principles, or she doesn't want to endanger the status she has achieved in the sports world.

She is hated by homophobes both within and without the sports world, maybe she feels she can't risk losing the approval of the people who are supportive of her, and goes along with the genderwoo to keep in with the in crowd?

Either way, she's been well and truly 'tellt' by these two high school students!

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GaIadriel · 26/08/2026 01:15

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lcakethereforeIam · 24/08/2026 18:27

Helleofabore · 24/08/2026 03:53

What have they got against tw, the bigots, and all the misgendering in the article. They should be ashamed.

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UtopiaPlanitia · 24/08/2026 15:51

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 24/08/2026 07:51

I have mixed feelings about this man's support, he seems to think it's women hating on women, which reduces our fight to regain our sport for ourselves to a cat fight.

Sadly, he's not wrong though: it is one group of women in the WNBA attacking Sophie Cunningham and the young girls turning up to support her at games. It's not a cat fight but it is an ideological disagreement between two groups of women.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 24/08/2026 07:51

I have mixed feelings about this man's support, he seems to think it's women hating on women, which reduces our fight to regain our sport for ourselves to a cat fight.

NotBadConsidering · 24/08/2026 04:13

Before the game, it was clear that Kanter Freedom was at the arena to rile up the fans, wearing a “WOMAN” t-shirt

So that’s “riling up” fans, is it? How pathetic.

Helleofabore · 24/08/2026 03:43

Enes Freedom has been removed from a game.

It is shocking to think how this situation has deteriorated. I will look to see what Enes Freedom was removed for. Surely not just a shirt. That would start looking very dicey for the court case that is building.

https://x.com/tpostmillennial/status/2091691300756037960?s=46

MarieDeGournay · 23/08/2026 18:35

BezMark · 23/08/2026 17:32

I think Fever should run that message too. Of course people with trans identity should be loved and welcomed to enjoy spectating the sports! Obviously!

It's like there's a 56kg boxing match. They decide to run a banner with "57+kg people, you are loved and welcome to enjoy this match. Your theoretical eligibility or lack of to actually join in this sanctioned event as a participant is zero factor. Try the fish!"

So true😂
Sometimes only a hackneyed cliché will do, in this case it's 'virtue signalling'🙄

BezMark · 23/08/2026 17:32

I think Fever should run that message too. Of course people with trans identity should be loved and welcomed to enjoy spectating the sports! Obviously!

It's like there's a 56kg boxing match. They decide to run a banner with "57+kg people, you are loved and welcome to enjoy this match. Your theoretical eligibility or lack of to actually join in this sanctioned event as a participant is zero factor. Try the fish!"

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 22/08/2026 09:21

Lines are drawn, guns are loaded (figuratively speaking), it's only a matter of time before the civil war kicks off.

Someone should remind the nutters that the Republicans won the last one. 😂

fromorbit · 22/08/2026 08:27

ADF sends letter to WNBA after controversies over treatment of Sophie Cunningham supporters
Suzanne Beecher, legal counsel for ADF, told Fox News Digital that free-speech protections at the federal, state and local levels may apply. Citing the possible use of public funds at WNBA facilities, Beecher said "there could even be First Amendment arguments."

https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/adf-sends-letter-wnba-controversies-treatment-sophie-cunningham-supporters

Two half months till mid terms

‘The Radical Left, They’re Crazy’ — President Donald Trump Doubles Down Against Trans Athletes Amid Sophie Cunningham-Fuelled Controversy
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/radical-left-crazy-president-donald-044836642.html

ADF sends letter to WNBA after controversies over treatment of Sophie Cunningham supporters

ADF sends letter to WNBA after controversies over treatment of Sophie Cunningham supporters

Alliance Defending Freedom warned the WNBA that silencing fans who support keeping women's sports female could expose the league to legal action.

https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/adf-sends-letter-wnba-controversies-treatment-sophie-cunningham-supporters

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UtopiaPlanitia · 21/08/2026 14:05

fromorbit · 21/08/2026 08:18

Coverup is falling apart. There are a bunch of commentators/reporters telling the truth in the US now. Mostly clustered in right wing media, but they are there the attempt to silence anyone elsewhere is being exposed and people are stepping up.

This is a columnist who was stopped about writing about pro-women protesters at a WBNA game: He resigned.

Matt Calkins

After 11 years as a sports columnist at the Seattle Times, I have decided to resign. It was entirely my choice, and it was not an easy one. The impetus was the Times declining to run a column I wrote from the perspective of two female student athletes who were opposed to competing against biological males. It was one of several pieces of mine that had been spiked, and I no longer felt like I could properly do my job as a columnist. I lay out the situation in greater detail in the link below, but I want to say that I enjoyed my time with the paper, find the talent there to be immense, and have no animosity toward anyone who works there. It was just time for a change.
https://mattycee.substack.com/p/i-was-a-sports-columnist-at-the-seattle?

That man has some serious integrity.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 21/08/2026 11:04

Still trying to drown out any opinion they don't like and yet the message is getting out. Despite their best shouty efforts they're losing, when that becomes obvious to even the most reality denying of them, 😂 there's going to be tears before bedtime, oh yes there is.😂

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fromorbit · 21/08/2026 08:18

Coverup is falling apart. There are a bunch of commentators/reporters telling the truth in the US now. Mostly clustered in right wing media, but they are there the attempt to silence anyone elsewhere is being exposed and people are stepping up.

This is a columnist who was stopped about writing about pro-women protesters at a WBNA game: He resigned.

Matt Calkins

After 11 years as a sports columnist at the Seattle Times, I have decided to resign. It was entirely my choice, and it was not an easy one. The impetus was the Times declining to run a column I wrote from the perspective of two female student athletes who were opposed to competing against biological males. It was one of several pieces of mine that had been spiked, and I no longer felt like I could properly do my job as a columnist. I lay out the situation in greater detail in the link below, but I want to say that I enjoyed my time with the paper, find the talent there to be immense, and have no animosity toward anyone who works there. It was just time for a change.
https://mattycee.substack.com/p/i-was-a-sports-columnist-at-the-seattle?

I was a sports columnist at the Seattle Times for 11 years. This is why I resigned

I really wanted the column to run.

https://mattycee.substack.com/p/i-was-a-sports-columnist-at-the-seattle

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Datun · 21/08/2026 06:59

Still no decision as to what a women is, I'm guessing.

I wonder how the discussions go, and whether they use the real words like men and women.

It always comes down to the same issue. Define woman. If you want to keep men out, you have to keep every man out.

Such a head scratcher. How on earth are they going to do it.

if it wasn't for the exposure of all the rampant misogyny, I could almost enjoy this.

1984Now · 20/08/2026 23:42

There's this frankly idiotic retort...what is Cunningham going on about, there are no TIMs in women's basketball.
That's not the point.
She's arguing a bigger point, women's sport in general.
Look what happens when TIMs <do> occupy women's sport, college volleyball is the classic example.
Here, just a couple of them corrupted the whole ethos, and effectively ruined things. But there was no one speaking out, the coaches and sport heirarchy made sure of that.
Also, no money in college volleyball, it's below people's notice, no female there could have the clout Cunningham has in pro sport.
Cunningham isn't specifically fighting for women's basketball, she's laying down a marker.
She's saying enough is enough, she's speaking out for all women in all women's sports, and saying what needs to be said.
What an absolute riot, not a single hateful word towards trans, literally a few sentences of truth re women's rights and opportunities, and chaos on the pro-trans in women's sport results.
What a prime example of the disinfectant of sunlight, and zero ability for the other side to apply critical thinking and defend their cause.
Just toddlers throwing their toys out of prams.

GaIadriel · 20/08/2026 23:07

Lol. Looks like the trans lobby are reporting posts. Load of bollocks (pun intended).

GaIadriel · 20/08/2026 23:01

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