Sophie Cunningham Gets Major Praise From Someone WNBA Fans Never Saw Coming
Cunningham finds a new supporter amid all the WNBA-related chaos.
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham is in the news again, and this time, she has an unusual supporter who praised her highly on social media.
Before diving into that, it’s important to note that the WNBA has yet to define what a woman is, despite holding multiple meetings with its league officials. Some are advocating for a much broader definition, while others point out what the ‘W’ in the WNBA obviously stands for.
Cunningham knows where she stands on the issue, and she is both lauded and hated for it.
What Did Sophie Cunningham Say About Transgender Athletes
Sophie Cunningham (Photo by Imagn Images)
The 30-year-old star previously stated to ESPN that it’s ‘common sense’ to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports. She also added that she just wants to protect young girls in the locker room, and they should not compete side by side against biological men.
While many lauded her statement, some inside the WNBA have pushed back with Cunningham’s comments. A debate about what she said has been raging online for more than a month now.
Without a clear definition of what a woman is, former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have officially declared themselves available in the WNBA Draft by declaring they are transwomen.
Cunningham Finds An Unexpected Supporter Amid All The Chaos
Sophie Cunningham (Photo by Imagn Images)
Amid all the backlash, the Indiana Fever guard found a surprising ally, long-time U.S. senator Ted Cruz. The senator came out of nowhere to declare Sophie Cunningham an “American Hero” for her stance on men competing in women’s sports.
“Fantastic. Thank you for so ferociously defending women & girls. Sophie is a true American hero,” Cruz shared on X.
As this issue lingers, Cunningham continues to answer questions about the WNBA’s future.
In a recent interview with USA Today, she reiterated her hope that the league will adopt a stronger solution to the current issues it is facing.
“You do have to have a person in power who is bold, who is confident, who wants the best for the players and not maybe for themselves all the time. So I do feel like, as a whole, that could be a position that’s maybe open at the end of the year, but that’s not my call,” Cunningham said.
“(Cathy Engelbert’s) done a lot of good things, but with where our league is trying to go, I feel like you just want someone who also wants that. That’s just a hard position to be in, in her shoes, us as players ― we always want more, more, more because we see how good it can be, but … that’s up to Adam Silver at the end of the day,” she added.
As long as the Indiana Fever are playing this season, Sophie Cunningham will always be near the top of the news.
