A rally formed outside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Tuesday night. The event coincided with the Indiana Fever’s 105-95 victory over the Seattle Storm. The demonstration supported Sophie Cunningham’s recent public remarks about transgender athletes.
Attendees backed two statewide initiatives, IL26-638 and IL26-001. The former would prevent transgender students from joining girls’ sports teams in Washington schools. The latter seeks to enhance the state’s ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’.
Sophie Cunningham had expressed her stance against transgender females participating in girls’ and women’s sports in a recent ESPN article. During the game, Seattle Storm fans booed her when she entered the court and during her free throws.
After the game, media members sought to interview Cunningham and Caitlin Clark, but neither was available. Instead, Kelsey Mitchell, Monique Billings, and head coach Stephanie White spoke to the media.
Monique Billings and coach White addressed questions from the media. A Fever public relations representative issued a statement: “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.”
Head coach Sonia Raman of the Seattle Storm discussed the protest and emphasized inclusivity.
“Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building,” said Raman. “I think we’ve always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door. From what I understand, that was successful.”
Heather Weiner, a spokesperson for the coalition No Hate in Washington State, commented on the night’s events. The group opposes Initiatives 638 and 001. “Washington State is a very caring, inclusive place,” Weiner stated. “We don’t always agree, but we do agree against hate, and we will come together about that.”