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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/

OP posts:
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Original poster
fromorbit · 30/07/2026 08:49

Helleofabore · 30/07/2026 08:15

https://x.com/sophaller/status/2082675804874604615?s=4

good that she is not backing down.

She posted this after two teenaged girls were cursed at by Celeste Keaton the co owner of the Seattle storms team.

“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind.

Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon💕 yay for gifts.

Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”

And, this also seems to be part of what the girls also experienced at the event

https://x.com/JackThompsonFOX/status/2082599355446374911/video/1?s=46

This must have been very scary for those girls

Go Sophie!

The harassment of the teen girls for saying they have a right to sports is a real mask off moment. Making teen girl cry is awful and it was caught on tape. The WBNA could not cover that level of evil up and had to act.

Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton reportedly suspended from 5 home games, fined after incident with Sophie Cunningham fans

https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/storm-minority-owner-celeste-keaton-reportedly-suspended-from-5-home-games-fined-after-incident-with-sophie-cunningham-fans-051043012.html

The anti-women side have a problem. As soon as you allow people to talk about this stuff everyone can see it is insane especially hating people for telling the truth and harassing girls. There is a huge amount of coverage of this.

Yet the TAs online can't see this they are actually defending the owner and saying harassing the girls was fine. This in turn is getting media coverage:

‘She did nothing wrong’: WNBA sparks outrage for suspending Storm owner for incident with Sophie Cunningham supporters

https://thecomeback.com/wnba/sparks-outrage-suspending-storm-owner-for-yelling-at-sophie-cunningham-fans.html

Plus it is all performative. The WBNA has no male players, and one "non binary" female. There are tens thousands of tall men in dresses in the US who could play in the league better than many there if they actually believed in what they are saying.

The media coverage and online debate is growing. It is looking more and more like this may be a turning point.

Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton reportedly suspended from 5 home games, fined after incident with Sophie Cunningham fans

The Storm's majority owner released a statement apologizing for the incident.

https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/storm-minority-owner-celeste-keaton-reportedly-suspended-from-5-home-games-fined-after-incident-with-sophie-cunningham-fans-051043012.html

OP posts:
Helleofabore · 30/07/2026 08:15

https://x.com/sophaller/status/2082675804874604615?s=4

good that she is not backing down.

She posted this after two teenaged girls were cursed at by Celeste Keaton the co owner of the Seattle storms team.

“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind.

Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon💕 yay for gifts.

Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.”

And, this also seems to be part of what the girls also experienced at the event

https://x.com/JackThompsonFOX/status/2082599355446374911/video/1?s=46

This must have been very scary for those girls

Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) on X

I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they belie...

https://x.com/sophaller/status/2082675804874604615?s=4

FlirtsWithRhinos · 29/07/2026 12:05

MarieDeGournay · 29/07/2026 11:20

I'm afraid that in the US, the trans issue seems to be inextricably linked to Trump/rightwing/conservative/fundamentalism.

I heard part of a speech by one of those 'possible Democrat saviours' - I didn't catch the name, it may have been James Talarico,- which was all about turning public anger to where it should be, not against...and the list which started with 'migrants are not the enemy'[big cheer] ended with 'transpeople are not the enemy' [big cheer].

Transpeople are arguably not the enemy, but trans activism IS the enemy - of women's rights, of women's very identity, of scientific fact, of social progress, of legal fairness, of community cohesion...
But any any pushback against trans extremism is being anti-trans, and anti-trans is pro-Trump.

It's frighteningly like McCarthyism, isn't it?
'are you now or have you every been' less than 100% accepting of all trans activists' demands?

Hopefully she'll peak a lot of undecideds, but the pro-trans ultras have made up their mind that because SC does not accept 100% of trans demands, she must be a right-wing MAGA Barbie - that's the way the 'logic' goes...

edited to take out an irrelevant edit!

Edited
Show quote history

Yes. Trans "rights" (inverted commas because what TRActivists mean by that are not reasonable human rights but specifically accomodating cross sex demands especially demands of men who claim to be women that they have unrestricted access to women's spaces and women's resources) has become a shibboleth, a test of faith.

It's very much the same in omnicause circles in the UK as well.

I think it's the batshittery itself that is part of it: what better way to show purity and open mindedness and above all how far away you are from old fashioned ideas than to wholeheartedly believe a d champion something so totally unintuitive and incorporeal and divorced from boring sometimes scary real life as the belief that "being a man or a woman is a state of mind, bodies just aren't relevant"

1984Now · 29/07/2026 11:48

I thought the three around the desk ostensibly on the anti-Sophie side looked totally disinterested and uncomfortable.
Sophie has thrown a spanner into the works, and the pro-males in female sports cadre can't handle it.
They're still using the no debate/cancel culture messaging of 2020/21.
It doesn't work anymore, people have had enough, people are fed up of being shut down
The problem for the other side is that their language and tactics are all they know.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 29/07/2026 11:26

Yes, absolutely agree, @MarieDeGournay and some people try that trick here, but not as many people buy it due to it not being particularly relevant to our political landscape and sounding American-centric and out of touch.

That’s why the shadowy “anti rights” funding suggestions are needed from the likes of Amnesty etc. And I’m sure the UK anti abortion movement does get a lot of funding by US Christian Right groups. But that gets extrapolated to all groups they don’t approve of based on their biased understanding of what the majority of “gender critical” women think.

MarieDeGournay · 29/07/2026 11:20

Iamnotalemming · 29/07/2026 08:55

Her team are clearly hoping this will all just blow over. The footage of the press conference is actually quite funny, all three of the women sat at the table looked so thoroughly fed up. Can we just talk about basketball ...

I did bristle though at the predictible framing of the question. Pro women = anti trans.

I'm afraid that in the US, the trans issue seems to be inextricably linked to Trump/rightwing/conservative/fundamentalism.

I heard part of a speech by one of those 'possible Democrat saviours' - I didn't catch the name, it may have been James Talarico,- which was all about turning public anger to where it should be, not against...and the list which started with 'migrants are not the enemy'[big cheer] ended with 'transpeople are not the enemy' [big cheer].

Transpeople are arguably not the enemy, but trans activism IS the enemy - of women's rights, of women's very identity, of scientific fact, of social progress, of legal fairness, of community cohesion...
But any any pushback against trans extremism is being anti-trans, and anti-trans is pro-Trump.

It's frighteningly like McCarthyism, isn't it?
'are you now or have you every been' less than 100% accepting of all trans activists' demands?

Hopefully she'll peak a lot of undecideds, but the pro-trans ultras have made up their mind that because SC does not accept 100% of trans demands, she must be a right-wing MAGA Barbie - that's the way the 'logic' goes...

edited to take out an irrelevant edit!

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 29/07/2026 11:09

fromorbit · 29/07/2026 08:16

Victory despite biased security and press.

WomenAreReal

3h
I still can’t believe we announced we were holding a celebratory rally for Sophie in Seattle of all places, received immense online pushback, even from WNBA players themselves, including abusive and threatening voicemails/emails, and then we showed up anyway with balloons & a lifesize Sophie, and just…. nothing happened? I had nightmares last night that I would lead my group to their death. Folks were making plans for who would take their pets and last minute wills. (I kind you not.)

Turns out we outnumbered the opposition about 10 to 1, plus men came out to protect us. Thank you men!

We had a great time & took a lot of pictures. People wore a lot of xx_xyathletics
gear. We had some good conversations with normies. (There were like 4 sad counter protestors that SFTERFCENTRAL had a fun time with. 🤣🤣🤣)

Has the tide turned?!??

The Transphobic Historian

They prohibited women and girls showing support for Sophie Cunningham from standing even on the arena steps, forcing us onto the public sidewalk. Meanwhile, they allowed the “No Hate” people not only onto the property balconies above us but also inside the arena itself.

They permitted the No Hate in Washington State campaign, which focuses on allowing men in women’s sports and dismantling parental rights in the state, to display its signage throughout the stadium and featured it on the Jumbotron multiple times during the game.

Interesting team statement which took place in press conference in response to a loaded question - the demo was in the press well before hand so difficult to see how team management could not have known. Clearly trying to duck controversy.

A statement from the Indiana Fever on the demonstration in support of Sophie Cunningham that took place outside of Climate Pledge Arena ahead of Tuesday night's game:

"Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers. Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission."

Footage of conference here:
https://thecomeback.com/wnba/fever-addresses-rally-tied-to-sophie-cunnninghams-comments.html

The media meanwhile is trying to portray the women protestors as a horde of monsters see below for biased example:

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sick-stomach-disgusting-wnba-world-045803726.html

That’s brilliant! I think that’s probably the only one in the PNW which didn’t kick off and put women in danger.

Iamnotalemming · 29/07/2026 08:55

Her team are clearly hoping this will all just blow over. The footage of the press conference is actually quite funny, all three of the women sat at the table looked so thoroughly fed up. Can we just talk about basketball ...

I did bristle though at the predictible framing of the question. Pro women = anti trans.

Original poster
fromorbit · 29/07/2026 08:16

Victory despite biased security and press.

WomenAreReal

3h
I still can’t believe we announced we were holding a celebratory rally for Sophie in Seattle of all places, received immense online pushback, even from WNBA players themselves, including abusive and threatening voicemails/emails, and then we showed up anyway with balloons & a lifesize Sophie, and just…. nothing happened? I had nightmares last night that I would lead my group to their death. Folks were making plans for who would take their pets and last minute wills. (I kind you not.)

Turns out we outnumbered the opposition about 10 to 1, plus men came out to protect us. Thank you men!

We had a great time & took a lot of pictures. People wore a lot of xx_xyathletics
gear. We had some good conversations with normies. (There were like 4 sad counter protestors that SFTERFCENTRAL had a fun time with. 🤣🤣🤣)

Has the tide turned?!??

The Transphobic Historian

They prohibited women and girls showing support for Sophie Cunningham from standing even on the arena steps, forcing us onto the public sidewalk. Meanwhile, they allowed the “No Hate” people not only onto the property balconies above us but also inside the arena itself.

They permitted the No Hate in Washington State campaign, which focuses on allowing men in women’s sports and dismantling parental rights in the state, to display its signage throughout the stadium and featured it on the Jumbotron multiple times during the game.

Interesting team statement which took place in press conference in response to a loaded question - the demo was in the press well before hand so difficult to see how team management could not have known. Clearly trying to duck controversy.

A statement from the Indiana Fever on the demonstration in support of Sophie Cunningham that took place outside of Climate Pledge Arena ahead of Tuesday night's game:

"Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers. Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission."

Footage of conference here:
https://thecomeback.com/wnba/fever-addresses-rally-tied-to-sophie-cunnninghams-comments.html

The media meanwhile is trying to portray the women protestors as a horde of monsters see below for biased example:

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sick-stomach-disgusting-wnba-world-045803726.html

‘Sick to My Stomach,’ ‘Disgusting’ — WNBA World Reacts to ‘Anti-Trans Rally’ in Support of Sophie Cunningham Before Storm-Fever

Sophie Cunningham’s stance against transgender athletes continues to reverberate in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever guard said in an interview with ESPN’s Hallie Grossman last week that she has nothing but love for the LGBTQ+ community but is unequivocally...

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sick-stomach-disgusting-wnba-world-045803726.html

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 28/07/2026 12:28

I’ll be interested to see what happens with the rally. I imagine there might be a counter protest, as it’s Seattle.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 28/07/2026 11:59

My scepticism was more about the hyperbolerly about the backlash, I just thought it could well be amped up for dramatic effect given the bias of the article.
It's always the end of the world with these people. 😱

Original poster
fromorbit · 28/07/2026 11:22

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 28/07/2026 10:46

Thanks, I'm taking what the article says with a pinch of salt because it's referring to SC's comments as 'anti-trans'.
Are the TRA's finding out they're not the only ones who can turn out in high numbers to make their feelings known. 🤣
They want to literally cancel a rally, because only they're allowed to wave flags and show support, it's not fair when anyone else does it. Boo hoo. 🤣

Show quote history

Yeah looking at the media reports on Sophie in the last few days the majority are set up to be anti-women's sports and spout the TA line fairly standard in the US.

The only ones which are not doing this are right leaning or a few following a independent line. This is power of the media establishment in the US.

It is important to share the biased ones because it shows how difficult the fight is and the propaganda going on. Even though polls show most of the public want women to have sports.

The thing is even with this bias the TA side has lost control of the narrative. It seems the WBNA a very "liberal" organisation in US terms is not planning to clamp down on Sophie at the moment. Possibly because of Trump, or because they know a LOT of the other players agree with her.

OP posts:
lcakethereforeIam · 28/07/2026 11:08

I noticed this happened

https://archive.ph/66eOj

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/07/26/female-referee-hurt-knocked-to-ground-player-melee-france/

I hope the referee makes a full recovery. It demonstrates how dangerous it can be for women to share a pitch with men. This seems a fluke but imagine if a trans-identifying woman did try to play with the boys. There are a few mixed sex, trans inclusive teams I believe. Distinct from teams that play sports designed to be mixed sex. I think the only reason the women on these teams haven't been seriously hurt is because they're lower league, possibly not very good, and the men on the teams may curb themselves to avoid injuring the women. At least I hope so.

Iamnotalemming · 28/07/2026 11:07

Wow this is becoming quite the moment, isn't it. A prime peaking opportunity.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 28/07/2026 10:46

fromorbit · 28/07/2026 10:35

There are demands that a pro Sophie Cunningham rally outside a game today is cancelled:

https://jang.com.pk/en/69890-wnba-under-fire-as-fans-demand-to-cancel-rally-over-sophie-cunningham-comments-news

Thanks, I'm taking what the article says with a pinch of salt because it's referring to SC's comments as 'anti-trans'.
Are the TRA's finding out they're not the only ones who can turn out in high numbers to make their feelings known. 🤣
They want to literally cancel a rally, because only they're allowed to wave flags and show support, it's not fair when anyone else does it. Boo hoo. 🤣

1984Now · 28/07/2026 10:44

fromorbit · 28/07/2026 10:35

There are demands that a pro Sophie Cunningham rally outside a game today is cancelled:

https://jang.com.pk/en/69890-wnba-under-fire-as-fans-demand-to-cancel-rally-over-sophie-cunningham-comments-news

Remind me, how many pro-trans rallies have ever been cancelled?
Interesting to watch this jump the shark moment on cancel culture.

OP posts:
Original poster
fromorbit · 27/07/2026 21:44

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 27/07/2026 20:54

Well it is a post-truth ideology, so lying is second nature to them.

Thing is many are wise to this now. So what worked in 2020 does not work at all now. It is getting weaker.

OP posts:
TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 27/07/2026 20:54

Well it is a post-truth ideology, so lying is second nature to them.

OldCrone · 27/07/2026 20:37

fromorbit · 27/07/2026 05:29

Some US companies learned from the Bud Light controversy in April 2023 when the brand partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney which cost them a lot of sales.

So many are avoiding overt trans themed marketing.

This is a test case whether a prominent US sportswomen and celebrity can speak up publicly for women and keep endorsements because they still sell a lot. If it works then expect others to speak up.

Most Americans think women should have sports. Because America is about money that should sell a lot of product.

Latest development is Sophie's podcast cohost, a man a friend from school, has publicly disagreed with her over her pro women position.

Podcast "Show Me Something" brings together WNBA & Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham and her high school bestie–turned–reality star, West Wilson. I wonder if they will argue it out online.

Sophie Cunningham's Podcast Co-Host Faces Backlash For Publicly Disagreeing With Her
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sophie-cunninghams-podcast-co-host-125410017.html

Show quote history

The first sentence of that article misrepresents what she said.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham believes it's "common sense" to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports.

No, she didn't say that. She said it's "common sense" to keep men out of women's sports.

Sophie Cunningham (G) Stats, News, Rumors, Bio, Video - Indiana - Yahoo Sports

Sports News, Scores, Fantasy Games

https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/players/6164/

Iamnotalemming · 27/07/2026 20:01

Reminds me of the Harry Potter book burning idiots.

Original poster
fromorbit · 27/07/2026 19:46

More dumb stuff.

TAs fans are now burning Sophie Cunningham jerseys.

She gets paid if you buy them !

Her merchandise sales are shooting up mainly from fans.

OP posts:
MarieDeGournay · 27/07/2026 10:30

I wrote that trans people in sport 'are not necessarily a threat on an anecdotal, personal, case-by-case basis'.

To balance my use of the word 'necessarily', here's a photo of the transwoman Giulia Valentino, looking every inch an actual threat in a women's Gaelic football match a few years ago.

Giulia appears to have gone back to Italy, or London, or wherever, but Giulia said in interviews that Giulia wanted to 'leave a legacy' for transpeople in Gaelic games.

Always happy to oblige by sharing this photo of your brave 'legacy', Giulia!

[Topical Gaelic football derail: hup Mayo, BTW🏆😁]

US women’s sports star Sophie Cunningham speaking up on defending women's sports
MarieDeGournay · 27/07/2026 10:19

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 27/07/2026 09:52

"Right-wingers have convinced a massive portion of people in our country that (transgender athletes) are a threat to sports in America, when mathematically that's not the case at all,"

I see 'Left-wingers' are hiding the truth behind general lies, again, it's not 'transgender athletes ' and a 'threat to sport' but 'transIDing males' earasing female sport.

Perhaps the massive portion of people aren't buying the lies any more, and have started rejecting all the gaslighting this nasty ideology has cruised by on for years.

Show quote history

People like him are mired in the anecdotal, aren't they?
..mathematically... unique questions ...individual bases... case-by-case- tiny minority..

They don't seem to be able to work on the level of principle and consistency. Sport is a very rules-based system - the minutiae of VAR, a tennis serve clipping the line, a boxer's weight at the weigh-in.

The category 'women's sports' is for biological women, and that has to be applied consistently to make sense, not case-by-case - like yeah he was offside, but it was only by a teeny tiny little bit and it would have been such an amazing goal! or yeah he's actually too heavy for this weight category but he tried really really hard to get the weight down, and we don't want to disappoint all the people who have bought their tickets...

That's not the way sport works. It works on rules, categories, limits, clarity - that's one of the things that people like about sport: it is a microcosm where the rules are clear and known to all concerned, and their application is carried out swiftly by referees and umpires who are [supposed to be] objective and consistent.
The rest of life isn't like that😒

So West Wilson is missing the point when he says it's not true that '(transgender athletes) are a threat to sports' - they are not necessarily a threat on an anecdotal, personal, case-by-case basis, but they are a macro-level threat to the rules-based nature of sports in general.

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