Sophie Cunningham, a standout athlete in women’s sports, has attracted both admiration and criticism for her firm stance on maintaining female-exclusive spaces in sports. This controversy was evident on a recent Friday evening in Portland when the Indiana Fever faced off against the Portland Fire, one of the WNBA’s newest expansion teams.
Cunningham’s outspoken advocacy has rallied supporters of women’s sports to demonstrate at her games. The initial rally in Seattle saw moderate opposition from trans rights advocates and attracted media attention due to an incident inside the arena. Celeste Keaton, a Seattle Storm co-owner, received a fine and suspension after berating teens wearing XX-XY Athletics T-shirts with messages supporting Cunningham. Similarly, Marco Esquivel, a Nordstrom store director, confronted these supporters, but Nordstrom has yet to address the situation publicly.
The Women’s Rights group, ‘Women Are Real,’ along with Amy E. Sousa, also known as ‘Known Heretic,’ and journalist Brandi Kruse, organized the ‘With Love Is Truth’ series that commenced on July 28, 2026. The series aimed to gather local supporters, including high school athletes, outside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena before a match between the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm.
We stand with the girls berated in Seattle, with Sophie Cunningham, and all female athletes,Sousa declared to the crowd in Portland.
Friday’s gathering saw the participation of former Olympian Inga Thompson and Kara Dansky, an attorney and board member of Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender. Many joined them before the game at the Moda Center to support their message and Cunningham’s stance.
Inside the Moda Center, Cunningham scored on a three-point shot during the first half against the Portland Fire. However, a rally supporting her message faced opposition from trans supporters, who tried to disrupt the event. Sousa praised Cunningham as a voice of reason in a divisive topic but was interrupted by a protester displaying a shirt with Protect Trans Kids printed on it, worn by Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
Cunningham’s remarks have ignited discussions across the WNBA. Trans rights supporters opposing Cunningham frequently clashed with her advocates, avoiding questions about their support for trans athletes in women’s sports. One protester dismissed the issue entirely in a heated exchange.
During a game against the Portland Fire, Cunningham expressed her determination, stating, I’m here to play basketball, but also to be myself and won’t dim my light despite opposition,
amid boos from the crowd. Fire fans visibly expressed their disapproval with trans and gay pride flags throughout the game, emphasizing their stance against Cunningham’s views.
The Indiana Fever’s next match in Minnesota against the Lynx will see another rally planned for Sunday, as Cunningham’s involvement continues to stir conversation in the WNBA.