Sophie Cunningham has defiantly hit back at her savage online critics after the WNBA star and close friend of Caitlin Clark spoke out against trans athletes in a recent interview.
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.
Cunningham, however, has insisted that the backlash will not get to her.
Speaking before her team’s Wednesday night game against Connecticut Sun Cunningham doubled down on her view, telling 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.’
Sophie Cunningham has doubled down after her comments about trans athletes sparked fury
Cunningham, pictured Wednesday night, stayed defiant speaking to reporters before her game
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.
‘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.
‘But I’ve never said I hated the trans community. I think there is space for everyone.’
Cunningham insisted that her comments are not hateful towards to the trans community
But she insisted that she would not be shifting her opinions on the issue in the future
Cunningham claimed that for the criticism she has received, she has also had a lot of support for speaking up on such a divisive topic.
‘Me coming out with that, there are so many people like “finally someone has said something”. I know whatever I say, I’m gonna get hate and I am gonna get love,’ she concluded.
‘That’s just what this world is. I am confident in who I am, I am happy being me and I am going to continue to be that.’
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.
Cunningham’s Fever team then ran out with an emphatic 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night.
She played for 21 minutes in the game and scored eight points. The win leaves Fever on a 17-10 record heading into the All-Star break.
