Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve defended the right of demonstrators to gather outside Sunday's game against the Indiana Fever, while also stating that the WNBA should establish a policy regarding transgender athletes. Reeve asserted that the narrative portraying transgender women as predators in locker rooms is inaccurate and problematic.
"It is not the case that we have 'biological men' in girls' locker rooms. The way it's being phrased, the innuendo there that transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room. There's a lot of narrative that is problematic that we need to address," Reeve told reporters.
The planned rally, dubbed "Sophie Night," is organized by XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey in support of Fever star Sophie Cunningham, who has publicly stated her desire to protect young girls in sports from competing against biological males.
Reeve expressed that she did not believe the rally would threaten the safety of the game or its attendees, noting that demonstrators have a right to peacefully assemble. "I don’t think we should feel like our safe space is being threatened. I don’t think these demonstrators are not being peaceful, not that I’ve seen. But everyone has a right to peacefully assemble, whether you agree with them or not."
Similar demonstrations have followed the Fever to other cities. In Seattle, an incident involving a team co-owner and Cunningham supporters led to the WNBA fining the co-owner and barring her from multiple home games.
Reeve emphasized that while the league has a responsibility to protect players and fans from feeling threatened or discriminated against, it must also preserve its culture of inclusion. "The commissioner and the league have a responsibility to ensure that any topic that could be problematic for players, or they perceive to be unsafe or threatened in any way or discriminated against, I think that’s something that’s fair for our leadership," she said.
Reeve also argued that transgender participation is presented as a larger threat to women's sports than it actually is. "In terms of, you know, my views, since I said last week, I come from a space of inclusion. And the narrative that I think that is problematic is to suggest that, um, number one, that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women's sports. And I, I think this is what's bothersome is that there's a faction of people in our country that are making this, uh, a massive issue."
She acknowledged that questions become more complicated at elite levels of competition, particularly concerning championships and scholarships. "Every kid has the right to access," Reeve stated. "Now, what gets nuanced is when you’re beyond puberty, when you’re an Olympic sport, when you’re looking at scholarships and that sort of thing. That’s where I say that common-sense people get together and you find common ground to find a way to be inclusive. The answer isn’t no."
Reeve recalled encouraging league officials years ago to establish a policy on the matter. "I encouraged the WNBA leadership years ago: What’s our stance? What are we going to do when this occurs? Are we going to be ready? Are we going to be reactionary? It would make sense for our league to be leaders in this space."
The debate has gained prominence in the WNBA following policy shifts in other major sports institutions and recent Supreme Court rulings. The NCAA limits women's competition to biological females, and the International Olympic Committee will implement biological eligibility rules for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The Supreme Court upheld state laws protecting female school sports, with justices ruling that Title IX does not mandate exceptions for transgender athletes in female competition.
Despite these developments, Reeve maintained that transgender participation is not the primary obstacle facing female athletes, pointing instead to disparities in facilities, uniforms, locker rooms, and institutional investment. "This is an issue that I think we can thoughtfully work through. You can voice your opinion, have a strong opinion, but it’s a safe space for everyone regardless of whether or not we agree."
Reeve first shared her stance on July 17, stating that attacks on transgender people have become more aggressive and that the number of transgender athletes being legislated upon is not a genuine problem. "What I’m hopeful for is that people have gotten themselves more educated and they understand that, that’s not actually a problem… exclusion is never the answer, separate isn’t equal, and trans lives matter, so to take away something that’s so valuable that sports brings to young people in particular and what it does, as I have a youngster, encourages you to be part of a team and what it gives you in terms of teamwork, leadership, competitiveness, all the things, they have every right to that as well."