Sophie Cunningham, a WNBA player, isn’t retracting her remarks about transgender athletes in women’s sports, and she doesn’t believe her position is particularly contentious.
In an interview with ESPN this week, the Indiana Fever guard expressed her thoughts on the divisive subject, stating that she felt obligated to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
During a meeting with the media on Wednesday, Cunningham was asked to elaborate on the quote, and she made it apparent that’s how she feels.
Cunningham stated to reporters:
“I said what I said”. “I think it’s kind of common sense. I think I’ll always believe in that.”
“I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. So, I stand on what I said and I will always believe that.”
“I think there is room for absolutely everyone here and I think there’s room to love everyone. I truly think when you get people in the same room and you have conversations, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people.”
#Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on her trans comments in ESPN:
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense. … I think it’s really important to protect children.”
“I don’t dislike anyone. … I’m there to love, but I’m also there to love biological women. …” pic.twitter.com/3OrIqoVYrk
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 22, 2026
Cunningham stated that although she is not politically inclined, she has morals and ideals that she would always uphold.
Cunningham responded, “I’m not speaking out of hate… and I don’t dislike anyone,” when asked if her position would have a bad effect on the trans community.
