Sophie Cunningham Defends Comments on Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said Wednesday that she remains firmly behind her opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, describing her position as a matter of “common sense.”
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham told reporters before Indiana’s 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun. “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.”
Her remarks followed the publication of an ESPN article in which Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and argued that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
The Fever responded soon after Cunningham’s pregame media availability with a statement emphasizing the organization’s commitment to treating fans from all backgrounds with respect. The franchise has routinely hosted Pride nights celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own. We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”
Cunningham, who said she is “not a very political person” and pushed back against the “MAGA Barbie” label attached to her, framed her position as rooted in her personal values rather than allegiance to a particular political party. She said her comments should not be interpreted as an indication of where she falls on the political spectrum.
“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides,” Cunningham said. “And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”
Asked whether her statements might be considered derogatory toward transgender athletes, Cunningham said she does not “dislike anyone” and believes there is “room to love everyone.”
“But I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”
Cunningham had previously shared a post from CBS Sports host Josh Pate about former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed on the women’s team in 2022. The now-deleted post said, “Female collegiate athletes deserve so much better than this.”
Cunningham also pointed to Title IX, the landmark 1972 federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. The measure is widely credited with dramatically expanding opportunities for girls and women to participate in sports across the United States.
“That’s why you have Title IX. That’s why you have some of the greats in women’s sports,” Cunningham said. “If Title IX and women’s sports weren’t protected, then you wouldn’t hear about any type of women in sport. And so, I think in the future, it’s just really important to protect.”
The debate over transgender participation in athletics has become increasingly prominent in politics and the courts. The Supreme Court recently upheld state-level restrictions preventing transgender athletes from competing on teams alongside cisgender athletes. That decision came about a year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to block transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
Cunningham said she is not concerned about how the public views her after she made her position known. She responded, “I don’t care,” when discussing potential criticism, though she acknowledged that the answer “sounds bad.”
She added that while opponents may focus on negative reactions to her remarks, she has also received messages from people who support her willingness to address the issue publicly.
“Everyone always is coming at it as a negative,” Cunningham said. “Well, me coming out with that, there are so many people who are coming out with the positive, saying, ‘You know what? Finally, someone has said something.’ And I don’t really look at either side of those because I know whatever I say, I’m going to get hate and I’m going to get love, and if I’m going to live by the love, I’m gonna die by the hate, and that’s just not who I am. I beat to my own drum.”
Cunningham is playing her second season with Indiana after the Fever acquired her from the Phoenix Mercury in a February 2025 trade. She returned to the organization on a one-year contract signed in April. The guard is averaging 9.3 points per game and making 42.9% of her attempts from 3-point range.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.