Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has received support from Republican Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina for her public stance on keeping biological males out of women's sports. Cunningham reiterated her position this week, stating that protecting girls' and women's sports is a matter of "common sense."
Graham, in a statement released Friday, thanked Cunningham for her outspokenness, calling her comments "common sense" in a society where such views are increasingly rare. "It's sad but true that in today's world, and particularly on this issue, common sense is not common," Graham said.
Graham, who identified herself as a "volleyball mom," shared concerns about the safety of girls in sports, referencing an incident where a North Carolina high school volleyball player was allegedly injured by a hit from a transgender athlete. "As a mother, thank you to Miss Cunningham for speaking out. I truly appreciate you adding your voice to this important debate. Our daughters will be the ones who benefit from your words and voice," Graham stated.
Cunningham initially made her remarks in an ESPN profile and doubled down on them before the Indiana Fever's game against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday. "I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense," Cunningham told reporters. "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."
Cunningham also asserted that her position aligns with the intent of Title IX and clarified that her comments were not intended as a slight against the transgender community. "But I'm also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected," she said. "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."
The Indiana Fever organization released a statement indicating that Cunningham's views are her own. "Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own," the team said. "We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that's what guides us as an organization."
The issue of transgender athletes participating in girls' and women's sports has been a prominent topic in recent years. Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2025 aimed at restricting transgender athletes' participation in such sports, while legal challenges to state-level restrictions continue.