Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham doubled down on July 22, 2026, after stating it is common sense
to exclude transgender athletes from women’s sports.
The controversy intensified before the Fever’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, as Cunningham refused to apologize for her stance.
Cunningham’s Stance on Protecting Women’s Sports
In a profile published by ESPN on July 21, Cunningham argued that barring transgender athletes is necessary to protect women’s sports. She specifically cited the need to protect young girls in locker rooms and athletic competitions from competing against biological men
.
“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.”
Sophie Cunningham, via ESPN
Cunningham linked her position to the legacy of Title IX, the 1972 law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs.
When asked if her remarks were derogatory, Cunningham maintained that she does not dislike anyone and believes there is room to love everyone
, but insisted that the rights of biological women must be protected.
White House Endorsement and Political Labels
The comments caught the attention of the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that it is completely ludicrous
for men to play in women’s sports and praised Cunningham for speaking the truth.
“It’s even more ludicrous that you do have [Sophie] Cunningham — a female athlete herself, very accomplished in her own right — coming forth and speaking that truth that men shouldn’t play in women’s sports, we want to protect women and girls, and the backlash she is receiving from Democrats and left-wing figures across the country is astonishing.”
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary
Despite the administration’s support, Cunningham has pushed back against the MAGA Barbie
label she has been given since her college years at Missouri. She told ESPN and USA Today that her political beliefs are very much in the middle
, stating she agrees and disagrees with various sides of the political spectrum.
Public Backlash and Calls for Suspension
Institutional Responses: Fever and WNBA
The Indiana Fever organization attempted to distance itself from the player’s personal views while maintaining a commitment to inclusivity. The team released a statement noting that their players are thoughtful adults
whose views are their own, and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to welcoming fans from every background.
The WNBA’s official stance remains vague regarding transgender women.
Legal and Athletic Context
Cunningham’s comments arrive during a period of significant legal shifts regarding transgender participation in sports. In February 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports
, which aims to ensure federal funding aligns with the view that sex is determined by gender assigned at birth.
Recent judicial actions have further solidified this trend. The Supreme Court recently upheld state bans in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit transgender athletes from competing on girls’ sports teams. Additionally, two transgender girls in New Hampshire recently dropped a lawsuit that had challenged the 2025 executive order.
This is not the first time Cunningham has engaged with this topic. In 2022, she reposted a tweet regarding swimmer Lia Thomas, stating that female collegiate athletes deserved better.
Cunningham, who is currently averaging 9.3 to 9.4 points per game and shooting 42.9 percent on 3-pointers, appears unmoved by the controversy. After tripling down on her comments via Instagram on Thursday, she remains a focal point of a broader national debate where athletic eligibility and civil rights increasingly intersect.
