WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has received the backing of the White House after speaking on the trans athlete debate and insisting she wants to ‘protect young girls’.
The 29-year-old underlined her support for the movement around protecting women’s sports while talking with ESPN, saying women ‘shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’
Cunningham’s words were inevitably picked up on and criticized online. WNBA fans have called for the league to ban or fine Cunningham for her remarks while many of the other responses on X have veered into abuse aimed at the Indiana Fever player.
However, amid the backlash, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has now spoken out and offered her support to the Indiana Fever star.
‘Men should not be playing in women’s sports. It’s completely ludicrous that anyone could support that,’ Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.
‘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 should(n’t) play in women’s sports.
Sophie Cunningham has spoken out about the debate about transgender athletes in sport
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered her support to the Indiana Fever star
‘The backlash she is receiving from Democrats and left-wing figures across the country is astonishing. They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue, which again, is an 80/20 issue. It’s common sense.’
Meanwhile, Cunningham herself appeared to double down on her views with a not-so subtle Instagram post on Thursday afternoon.
Taking to the social media platform, the WNBA star shared pictures of her arriving before one of the Fever’s recent games, with the caption: ‘I said what I said.’
She also had the location tagged as ‘Women’s Sports’, before later changing it.
Cunningham, who is a close friend to teammate Caitlin Clark, had already defended her comments before her team’s Wednesday night game against Connecticut Sun.
She told reporters: ‘There’s going to be some negative comments but there’s also a lot of positive comments too. It is what it is.
‘We’re all human, I really don’t care what other people have to say. I said what I said, I think it’s common sense and I think I will always believe in that. I stand on what I said.’
Cunningham was asked if her words signal a move to become more political but she denies having any aspirations to remain outspoken on any other major issues.
Cunningham doubled down after her comments about trans athletes sparked fury
The Indiana Fever star has become a fan-favorite in the WNBA over recent years
‘I am not a very political person but I have beliefs, I have morals and I will always be true to who I am,’ Cunningham said.
‘I think people are going to take it how they want to take it. When it comes to protecting young girls and women in sports, I feel very strongly about that.’
The topic has become particularly politicized since President Donald Trump returned for a second term in office. He issued an executive order to block trans athletes participating in girls or women’s sports and the Supreme Court recently upheld state bans on trans athletes.
Asked if her own comments could now ‘come back’ on the trans community, Cunningham said: ‘I extend love, I don’t dislike anyone.
‘I think there’s room for everyone here and 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.
‘I’m there to love but I am also there to love biological women and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. Like I said, I am going to stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs for that.
Cunningham insisted that her comments are not hateful towards to the trans community
‘But I’ve never said I hated the trans community. I think there is space for everyone.’
Back in 2022, Cunningham faced heavy backlash after sharing a post from CBS Sports host Josh Pate regarding the controversy surrounding former Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and their inclusion on the women’s team.
Pate’s post read: ‘Female collegiate athletes deserve so much better than this’.
Cunningham was forced to release a statement over the matter, at the time, saying that she ‘stands’ with athletes, but calling for ‘fair’ competition in events.
