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Sophie Cunningham, a role player on the Indiana Fever, is one of the most popular players in the WNBA. Her notoriety took another step this week when she answered some political questions in an oft-shared interview with ESPN.
Cunningham called herself "very much in the middle" but spoke about "[protecting] women's sports," sharing that she wants to keep "biological" men out.
The Fever guard reiterated that she has plenty of love for the trans community when asked about the interview before Indiana's home WNBA contest against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night, which ended in a dominant 123-88 win for Indiana.
"I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense. 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," she shared.
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Cunningham emphasized to Indiana media that she's "not a very political person" when asked if she was interested in supporting any policy changes, while frequently mentioning the previous stature of Title XI.
"Like I said, I extend love, and I don't dislike anyone," she said. "I think there is room for absolutely everyone here. And I think there's room to love everyone. And I truly think when you get people in the same room, and you have conversations, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people.
"And so I'm there to love, but I'm also there to love biological women. And I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And like I said, I'm going to stand true to that."
Cunningham wrapped her statements on the subject with one note. "I have never once said I hated the trans community," she told Fever reporters
FOX News tweeted a snippet of writer Hallie Grossman's ESPN article about Cunningham's position on biological men in women's sports, which was subsequently retweeted by a series of right-wing figures.
"Well said," wrote Texas Senator Ted Cruz. "Every athlete, coach, parent, and lawmaker should be united in preserving Title IX and saving women’s sports. NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS, SHOWERS, OR LOCKER ROOMS," wrote former football coach turned Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville.
"In a world full of Megan Rapinoes, be a Sophie Cunningham," tweeted former college swimmer and current political pundit Riley Gaines.
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Cunningham, 29, in her second season with the Fever. She spent the first six seasons of her career with the Phoenix Mercury, but ended up in Phoenix in a multi-team trade.
She was a starter for most of her time with the Mercury but transitioned to a bench role in Indiana. Her 23.0 minutes per game with the Fever this season is her lowest mark since 2021.
Cunningham was injured during Indiana's run to the Eastern Conference Final this year, but she's been relatively healthy for the 2026 campaign, averaging 9.4 points a night for the 16-10 Fever.
