Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham has faced ongoing controversy following her comments to ESPN about transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. She stated, “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans, and I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Since these remarks resurfaced, the WNBA has become a battleground for discussions on transgender rights. Fans have expressed their views by either supporting or opposing these rights during games.
Recently, reports indicate the WNBA has asked fans to cover shirts with pro-XX-XY messages, yet allows shirts reading “Protect Trans Kids,” which has ignited social media discourse. Fans on both sides have protested at games, particularly those featuring Cunningham. Many WNBA owners and coaches have publicly opposed Cunningham’s statements.
Teams in the league are addressing the issue in various ways. The New York Liberty recently took the opportunity to counter Cunningham’s views during their game against the Fever. Messages on their jumbotron welcoming and supporting transgender fans included, “Hey trans fans! Glad you’re here! Go Liberty!” and “Welcome Trans Liberty fans! You are loved and you belong!”
As a result of Cunningham’s comments, the participation of transgender athletes in the WNBA has become a contentious topic. Notably, two former NBA players, including Enes Kanter Freedom, have announced their intention to enter the 2027 WNBA draft.
In response, the league’s team presidents recently convened to discuss eligibility rules for transgender athletes. The current collective bargaining agreement specifies “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,” but lacks clarity on whether this refers to players whose birth sex is female.