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Long before she became Caitlin Clark's enforcer, Sophie Cunningham caused a stir when she retweeted a post from CBS host Josh Prate opposing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who in 2022 became the first trans athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship.
Cunningham, who was then in her fourth season in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, was forced to explain herself, and she did so with a tweet where she said she had nothing against trans athletes.
Four years later, Sophie recalled the backlash she received from that incident. And with a bigger voice today, she made it clear where she stood on the controversial issue.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said via ESPN. "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
Transgender swimmer wins NCAA title in women's competition
It can be recalled that Thomas was the University of Pennsylvania swimmer who first competed for the school's men's team. However, after undergoing hormone therapy and meeting the NCAA's requirements in 2019, she came out as transgender and competed in women's events.
In 2022, Thomas became the first trans athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship when she captured the women's 500m freestyle, sparking controversy. Prate reacted to her win by saying, "Female collegiate athletes deserve more than this" on Twitter. Sophie retweeted it and drew flak.
"To my teammates, friends, family, supporters, and fans, you know that I stand with all people, especially my fellow athletes. I do not judge but support all races, religions, sexual preferences, and gender equity. We all have a place in this world to compete, and I hope we are able to grant everyone that opportunity fairly,"said Sophie on "X."
The NCAA and the Olympics subsequently issued a ban on trans athletes competing in women's events
In 2025, the U.S Department of Education ruled that Penn violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to compete in women's events in the NCAA and ordered the school to wipe out Lia's records. Then, in April, the International Olympic Committee ruled that transgender athletes are banned from competing in women's events beginning with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Former NBA star Tristan Thompson offered his support to the ban.
"Yeah, I think for me as a father, and I think it's more so for me as a father, and I have daughters and nieces, I think it's different. A man's genetic makeup is totally different. I understand how you identify, but me as a competitor, it wouldn't be fair for me to go play in the WNBA,"said Thompson.
For sure, Sophie and the girls would be no match if TT played in the WNBA. Similarly, other NCAA swimmers in 2022 were at a disadvantage when they swam against Thomas. Curiously, no transgender athlete has attempted to play in the "W", and it hasn't been an issue that has been discussed in the league. But if somehow it does, we know where Cunningham clearly stands.
Related: WNBA reportedly blocks brands from using Sophie Cunningham's viral "point"
