Former ESPN personality Katie Nolan has criticized WNBA player Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes in women's sports, suggesting the Indiana Fever forward lacks critical-thinking skills or is not interested in applying them.
Speaking on her SiriusXM podcast, Casuals, Nolan argued that the way Cunningham frames the debate misrepresents the issue. "Nobody is saying we should get rid of, for example, the WNBA and the NBA, and everybody should just compete together," Nolan said. "Nobody's saying that. And so, the people that are packaging it as that are doing so on purpose."
Nolan suggested that Cunningham is engaging with a divisive political narrative without sufficient scrutiny, especially given her proximity to fellow athletes and team personnel who could offer different perspectives. "You're taking the message that's being given to you by people who are highly invested in this dividing stuff, and you're helping them sell it by not questioning it at all," Nolan stated.
Cunningham has become a notable figure in cultural debates since expressing her opposition to the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, an opinion she has stated is not tied to political philosophy. "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans," Cunningham told ESPN. "And I'm like, 'I never once said that.'" She added, "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."
Nolan also pointed to Cunningham's appearance as a ring girl at Conor McGregor's UFC fight as a potential contradiction. McGregor has faced a civil liability finding for sexual assault, and UFC president Dana White was recorded slapping his wife. "You couldn’t catch me dead at that fight," Nolan said, referencing her own fandom of the UFC. "F*** Conor McGregor, respectfully. And you [follow up] by saying that it’s really important for you to protect little girls from some theoretical transgender person who might take advantage of [them]. F*** so many things would have to happen for the harm you’re claiming to be worried about to actually be carried out. Meanwhile men come into women’s sports in various positions of authority … and they take advantage of women all the time. And where were you, Sophie, on any of that?"
Cunningham has described herself as being "very much in the middle" on many political issues, agreeing and disagreeing with points from both sides. Despite her neutral self-assessment, conservative activists have shown support for her stance.
Meanwhile, Cunningham has faced criticism, including being booed during a recent game in Portland. In response to the booing, Cunningham made an "L" gesture with her fingers, which she later denied was meant to call critics "losers," though she admitted to "talk[ing] s***" with the crowd. She further amplified the situation by posting a video of herself quipping "shhh" to those who booed her.
Cunningham has maintained that her public statements have not been a distraction to her team, the Fever. "I think at the end of the day, I come in and I do my job," she said. "I think everyone who knows me personally, they know that I'm full of love. I'm bubbly. I love the people around me. I love basketball. I love inspiring the next generation and doing that in a positive light. And so that doesn't even cross my mind. Doesn't cross my teammates' minds."
Fever coach Stephanie White expressed a preference for inclusion when asked about the debate. "I wouldn't say I'm educated enough from a scientific standpoint, but I don't ever believe that exclusion is an answer," White stated. "I just don't."
Supporters of Cunningham demonstrated outside the arena in Portland, holding signs in support of her views. Cunningham stated she had no affiliation with the group but supported their right to free speech. "Props to them, props to everyone who is able to be competent and be bold and courageous enough to speak their truths," she said.
Days prior, Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was banned from her team's next five home games by the WNBA after allegedly calling Cunningham supporters "f***ing insane" and berating them courtside.