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

[fromorbit]

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.

Happy Birthday, Sophie 🎂

Haha I came straight from wnba subreddits on Reddit to post that story, knew I should have checked the thread first 😂 they are so batshit

Sophie booed in Canada

https://www.dailymail.com/sport/wnba/article-16062881/sophie-cunningham-wnba-transgender-debate.html

Busy booing women but guess what they have a new crazy masot

Toronto Tempo reveal new non-binary mascot with Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever in attendance

https://www.hitc.com/toronto-tempo-reveal-new-non-binary-mascot-with-sophie-cunningham-indiana-fever-in-attendance/

A culture war over trans athletes invades the WNBA, and ratings soar

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-08-18/former-nba-players-troll-wnba-by-demanding-draft-eligibility

Every time I think this can't get more crazy it escalates. WNBA is having to issue statements constantly.

It's worth noting, however, that the WNBA subreddit is not affiliated with the league in any way. The WNBA issued a statement to clarify that amid the Cunningham controversy.

"The WNBA does not moderate or have any affiliation with the r/WNBA subreddit," a WNBA spokesperson said, per Meghan L. Hall of USA Today.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-issues-clear-statement-sophie-121800019.html

“The WNBA is aware of interactions at Sunday night’s game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts,” the WNBA statement reads, via ABC News. “This should not have happened.”
https://www.thebiglead.com/sophie-cunningham-debate-wnba-fan-shirt-controversy/

I think it's possible, likely even, that some folx, who would never have considered leaving their parent's basement going to a game, are getting tickets just to boo her.

Indeed. However the fact is hating Sophie like hating JKR is very much not working.

Their obsession is undermining their own cause. The drama is great media.

What ever next. Wonder if the media will wonder what else happens on preddit.

Sophie Cunningham Was 'Banned' From WNBA Reddit, Then Moderators Claimed She Wasn't
https://www.fashiontimes.co.uk/reddit-controversy-sophie-cunningham-name-filtered-1762891

Canadian powerlifting champion April Hutchinson leads first Sophie Cunningham rally outside the US
Canadian powerlifter April Hutchinson led the seventh Cunningham rally, the first held outside the US

https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/canadian-powerlifting-champion-april-hutchinson-leads-first-sophie-cunningham-rally-outside-us

Sophie interview with USA Today - summarises some of the recent developments:

Sophie Cunningham says WNBA can discuss both controversy, basketball | Exclusive

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2026/08/19/sophie-cunningham-wnba-trans-athletes-league-leadership/91340010007/

Well done that woman, April Hutchison.
Now, are leading sportsmen ever gonna pipe up?
I don't mean retired players who have nothing to lose by performative application to join the women's league.
I mean men at the top of their game right now, who have something at stake.
Or is it as usual all going to have to be shouldered by women?