Brian Urlacher, a former NFL standout, admits he’s not a big follower of the WNBA. However, Sophie Cunningham has caught his attention in a significant way. “She’s great. Bro, she’s so fun to watch. It’s unbelievable. She’s so aggressive. She’s fun to watch. I follow her on Instagram. She’s got great stuff out there,” Urlacher shared with Fox News Digital.
Urlacher is particularly impressed with Cunningham, a guard for the Indiana Fever. His fandom grew after Cunningham voiced her opinion on transgender athletes in sports. She stated, “young girls…shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” a sentiment Urlacher wholeheartedly supports.
“She just says what’s true. She says common-sense things, and she gets so much backlash. She’s like, ‘Men should not be playing in women’s sports.’ Why is that so controversial? I don’t get it. I don’t understand it,” Urlacher commented.
He commended Cunningham for her unwavering stance amidst criticism. “It’s a simple statement. She stood by it. That’s what I love about when people say things: Don’t back down. If you say something, stand by it. And she said it. She backed it up. She’s not backing down, no matter how much heat she gets from certain people,” Urlacher added.
Urlacher believes the issue splits public opinion as an “80-20 issue,” with the majority reportedly agreeing with Cunningham. Yet, social backlash remains strong.
The enthusiasm for Cunningham was evident as Urlacher praised both her and Caitlin Clark as standout WNBA players. “I don’t watch the WNBA, but I like those two girls (Cunningham and Caitlin Clark) right there,” Urlacher said.
Cunningham’s comments, while risky given the league’s generally liberal stance, were notable for being direct. “It’s a liberal and mostly gay league, which is fine. I have no problem. My daughter is gay. No problem. I’ve got no problem with that… But man, what do you do, right? She said what she said. I cannot disagree with her,” Urlacher explained.
Support has surged for Cunningham from various conservatives, including Republican lawmakers like Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt.
Despite not being politically active, Cunningham remains steadfast in her views. “I’ll always believe in that. It’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category,” Cunningham said, affirming her commitment to her beliefs.