Sophie Cunningham says it’s ‘common sense’ to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham doubled down Wednesday on comments she made in a recently published ESPN article, saying it’s “common sense” to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
In the ESPN article, Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said before Indiana’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday. “And 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. I stand on what I said.”
The participation of transgender athletes in sports has become an increasingly politicized issue, with the Supreme Court recently upholding individual state bans on trans athletes competing in sports alongside cisgender athletes. The ruling came roughly a year after President Donald Trump issued an executive order attempting to block trans athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
Cunningham said that she’s “not a very political person,” but her morals compelled her to speak out. She also stated that her stance on trans athletes is not indicative of which side of the political aisle she falls on.
Cunningham noted the importance of Title IX, a gender equality law passed in 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. The groundbreaking law is credited with exponentially increasing participation in girls’ and women’s sports in the U.S.
“That’s why you have Title IX. That’s why you have some of the greats in women’s sports,” Cunningham said. “If Title IX and women’s sports weren’t protected, then you wouldn’t hear about any type of women in sport. And so, I think in the future, it’s just really important to protect.”
Asked if she thought her comments could be viewed as derogatory toward trans athletes, Cunningham said she doesn’t “dislike anyone” and there is “room to love everyone.”
“But I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected,” Cunningham continued. “And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”
The Fever released a statement shortly after Cunningham’s pregame comments that encouraged inclusivity among its fanbase. The franchise has regularly held Pride nights to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own,” the Fever said in their statement. “We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”
Cunningham said “I don’t care” what people think of her since going public with her thoughts on transgender athletes. She acknowledged her blunt response to potential backlash “sounds bad,” but the criticism won’t stop her from sharing her opinion.
“Everyone always is coming at it as a negative,” Cunningham said. “Well, me coming out with that, there are so many people who are coming out with the positive, saying, ‘You know what? Finally, someone has said something.’ And I don’t really look at either side of those because I know whatever I say, I’m going to get hate and I’m going to get love, and if I’m going to live by the love, I’m gonna die by the hate, and that’s just not who I am. I beat to my own drum.”
Cunningham is in her second season with the Fever. She was acquired via a trade with the Phoenix Mercury in February 2025 and re-signed with Indiana on a one-year deal in April. Cunningham is averaging 9.3 points per game and shooting 42.9 percent on 3-pointers.
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