Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made a public statement Sunday by wearing a shirt that read "Trans Kids Belong" while coaching against the Indiana Fever. The visible display occurred at Target Center during a matchup featuring Fever star Sophie Cunningham.
Reeve had previously commented on the topic of transgender athletes, stating that she advocates for "inclusion," the need to "protect trans kids," and that "every kid has a right to sports." Her action on the sideline followed a rally supporting Cunningham's stance outside the arena before the game.
The shirt is seen as a direct response to Cunningham, who has faced criticism for her views on biological sex in women's sports. Cunningham has stated that girls and women should not have to compete against biological men or share locker rooms with them. She has also asserted that she has "never once" expressed hatred toward transgender people and believes there is space for everyone, specifying her concern for "young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."
Reeve's shirt, by contrast, has been interpreted as a broader slogan that implies Cunningham's position is one of exclusion towards all transgender children, a distinction the article's source suggests Cunningham herself did not make. The source notes that Reeve acknowledged the complexity of the issue regarding post-puberty competition for scholarships or Olympic spots, advocating for common ground over exclusion.
Following the game, attempts by Fox News Digital and OutKick to ask Reeve about the shirt's intent as a response to Cunningham were reportedly denied credential access for the game. The Lynx organization did not respond to inquiries regarding whether Reeve's shirt was a deliberate response to Cunningham's comments or if the organization approved or endorsed the message.
The denial of media credentials to these outlets has become a point of discussion, particularly given the WNBA's stated commitment to inclusion and athlete expression. The article questions the WNBA's stance on using games as a platform for social messages, contrasted with the denial of access for potentially challenging questions on the matter.