Sophie Cunningham Doubles Down After Reporters Heatedly Grilled The Star Player Over Her Transgender Comments [VIDEO]
Sophie Cunningham doubles down on her transgender stance.
A recent press conference appearance by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham quickly drew widespread attention. The prominent professional basketball player faced intense questioning following her transgender comments.
Several aggressive media members heavily questioned her regarding controversial opinions on biological divisions.
Sports Reporters Confront Sophie Cunningham Over Divisive Stance
Sophie Cunningham (Image Credits: Imagn)
Before Wednesday night’s game against the Connecticut Sun, Cunningham addressed the comments she made in ESPN’s profile. Cunningham was asked about her political views and the “MAGA Barbie” nickname she has been given by some fans.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she told 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.”
Despite these controversial remarks, Sophie Cunningham insisted that her political beliefs are “very much in the middle.”
“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume,” she says.
Cunningham Doubles Down
Sophie Cunningham. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The professional athlete refused to alter her original position despite facing immediate pushback from the media room. Specifically, the basketball star explicitly stated that her point of view relies heavily on simple common sense.
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said via The Athletic.
“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. I stand on what I said.”
Sophie Cunningham was then asked whether she understood why some people might see her remarks as offensive toward transgender athletes. She responded by saying she does not “dislike anyone” and believes there is “room to love everyone.”
“But I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected,” Cunningham continued.
“And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”
“Everyone always is coming at it as a negative,” Cunningham added.
“Well, me coming out with that, there are so many people who are coming out with the positive, saying, ‘You know what? Finally, someone has said something.’ And I don’t really look at either side of those because I know whatever I say, I’m going to get hate and I’m going to get love, and if I’m going to live by the love, I’m gonna die by the hate, and that’s just not who I am. I beat to my own drum.”
Following Cunningham’s comments on Wednesday, the Fever went out and beat the Connecticut Sun. Sophie Cunningham scored 8 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in 21 minutes of play. She came off the bench and went 0-for-3 from the field, but shot a perfect 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.
