Sophie Cunningham Says Biological Men Should Not Play in the WNBA
The professional sports landscape has increasingly become dominated by progressive politics, with science-based biology becoming a controversial topic. In a recent ESPN article published in July 2026, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham upheld the belief that only biological women belong in women’s sports, stating, “that love is truth.” Cunningham further explained her desire to protect female-only environments, saying, “I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
On the sidelines, Minnesota’s head coach Cheryl Reeve made her own political statement, wearing a T-shirt that read: ‘Trans Kids Belong.’
This is not the first time Cunningham has gone viral; in 2025, after Connecticut Sun player Jacy Sheldon ganged up on Cunningham’s famous yet polarizing teammate Caitlin Clark, Cunningham shoved Sheldon to the floor. Subsequent media articles called Cunningham “the enforcer” and claimed Cunningham received a pass for her aggressive actions because of her “whiteness” when compared to black WNBA players.
Since then, Cunningham has also faced criticism for following Riley Gaines and Turning Point USA on social media and has been called a “MAGA Barbie” in some online comments. Yet for Cunningham, standing up for her teammates and advocating for women’s sports are not purely political issues, but simply matters of common sense. Cunningham even stated in the ESPN interview that she does not openly share about her politics, “but people love to assume.”
Addressing the media backlash to her trans athlete statements, Cunningham did not back down but clarified she is not trying to spread hate to anyone, adding: “I said what I said,” and it is simply “common sense” to bar biological males from competing in the WNBA.
Cunningham’s straightforward remarks drew a sharp contrast with others in the league, including rival coaches and even the leadership of the Indiana Fever team. When Fever head coach Stephanie White was asked whether biological males should be able to participate in women’s sports, White responded, “I’m not educated enough from a scientific standpoint.”
The ideological divide on this issue was on full display during a Sunday game on August 2 when the Fever faced the Minnesota Lynx. After taking an elbow to the face, Cunningham was hit with a questionable defensive foul. On the sidelines, Minnesota’s head coach Cheryl Reeve made her own political statement, wearing a T-shirt that read: “Trans Kids Belong.”
Although Cunningham has largely stood alone in her beliefs within the WNBA, a recent constitutional decision lends legal support to her position. In June 2026, the Supreme Court case West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox held that restricting participation on female sports teams based on biological sex does not violate Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. As legal protections for women’s sports continue to evolve, one can hope biological fairness will continue to prevail in women’s athletics despite the dominant ideological pressure in the WNBA.
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