Sophie Cunningham redoubles her commitment to defending women’s sports
Indiana Fever basketball star Sophie Cunningham boldly reiterates her stance on protecting women’s sports, emphasizing that it is “common sense” to protect young children. The White House also weighed in and defended Cunningham’s comments.
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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham received support Friday from Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., after the WNBA player this week doubled down on her comments that it is “common sense” to keep biological males out of women’s sports.
In a statement issued Friday, Graham thanked Cunningham for speaking publicly about the issue.
“I want to thank Sophie Cunningham for speaking out and making it clear that I couldn’t agree more,” Graham said.
WHITE HOUSE DEFENDS WNBA STAR SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM AFTER SHE SPEAKS OUT IN SUPPORT OF PROTECTING WOMEN’S SPORTS
Sophie Cunningham speaks to the media at Player 15 headquarters in Phoenix on September 26, 2024. (Diannie Chávez/La República/RED USA TODAY via Imagn Images)
“What she said took a lot of guts. It’s sad but true that in today’s world, and particularly on this issue, common sense is not common.”
Graham, who described herself as a “volleyball mom,” said she knows “how dangerous it is for boys to play girls’ sports” after years of traveling with her daughter’s team throughout South Carolina and the Southeast.
He also referenced a North Carolina high school volleyball player who was seriously injured after being hit by a transgender athlete.
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Senator Darline Graham Nordone, R.S.C., participates in a swearing-in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber at the United States Capitol on July 14 in Washington, DC. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
“As a parent, thank you to Ms. Cunningham for speaking out,” Graham said. “I really appreciate you adding your voice to this important debate. Our daughters will be the ones who benefit from your words and your voice.”
Cunningham reiterated his position Wednesday before the Fever’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun after first making the comments in an ESPN profile earlier this week.
“I said what I said. I think it’s common sense,” Cunningham told reporters. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and it’s the little girls that are involved in that category as well. I stand by what I said.”
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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham plays in the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 27, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Image Images)
Cunningham also said he believes protecting women’s sports is consistent with the intent of Title IX and maintained that his comments were not directed against transgender people.
“But I’m also there to love biological women and I think there are rights that need to be protected,” Cunningham said. “And, like I said, I will stay true to that. I will never waver in my beliefs on that. But I have never once said that I hate the trans community.”
Indiana Fever later issued a statement saying Cunningham’s views are his own.
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“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those points of view are their own,” the team said. “We are committed to welcoming fans of all backgrounds and treating everyone with respect, and that is what guides us as an organization.”
The debate over transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports has become a major topic in recent years. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2025 aimed at banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports, while the Supreme Court recently allowed state laws restricting the participation of transgender athletes to remain in effect as legal challenges continue.
