Sophie Cunningham redoubles her efforts to defend women’s sport
Indiana Fever basketball star Sophie Cunningham boldly reiterates her stance in favor of protecting women’s sports, emphasizing that it’s “common sense” to protect young children. The White House also weighed in, defending 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 doubled down this week on her comments that it’s “common sense” to keep biological males out of women’s sports.
In a statement released Friday, Graham thanked Cunningham for speaking out publicly on the issue.
“I want to thank Sophie Cunningham for speaking out and making it clear that I couldn’t agree more,” Graham said.
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Sophie Cunningham speaks to members of the media at Player 15 HQ in Phoenix on September 26, 2024. (Diannie Chavez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“What she said took a lot of courage. It’s sad but true that in today’s world, and especially on this issue, common sense is not common.”
Graham, who describes herself as a “volleyball mom,” said she knows “how dangerous it is to have boys playing girls’ sports” after years of traveling with her daughter’s team across South Carolina and the Southeast.
She also referenced a North Carolina high school volleyball player who was seriously injured after being struck by a blow from a transgender athlete.
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Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C., participates in a swearing-in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol July 14 in Washington, DC. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
“As a mother, thank you to Miss Cunningham for speaking out,” Graham said. “I really appreciate you adding your voice to this important debate. Our girls will be the ones to benefit from your words and your voice.”
Cunningham reiterated his stance Wednesday before the Fever’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun after first making the remarks 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 that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and it’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand by what I said.”
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Indiana Fever goalie Sophie Cunningham plays in the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 27, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Cunningham also said she believed protecting women’s sports was consistent with the intent of Title IX and maintained her comments were not directed at transgender people.
“But I’m also here 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. But I have never once said that I hate the trans community.”
The Indiana Fever later issued a statement asserting that Cunningham’s opinions were his own.
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“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those opinions are their own,” the team said. “We are committed to welcoming fans from 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 women’s sports has become a major issue in recent years. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2025 to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, while the Supreme Court recently allowed state laws restricting transgender athletes’ participation to stand as legal challenges continue.
