Megan Rapinoe, the former U.S. Women's National Team star, has publicly criticized WNBA player Sophie Cunningham and advocate Riley Gaines regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. Rapinoe addressed the issue on her podcast, "Why Are You Like This?", expressing her views on what she described as a "controversy that is happening right now around trans women in sports."
Rapinoe's comments were prompted by a post-game photograph of Cunningham and Gaines. She stated that seeing the picture provided her with "everything I need to know" about Cunningham's beliefs, framing it as an instance of guilt by association. Rapinoe asserted that Cunningham has expressed support for transgender people and Title IX, and questioned the significance of the photo.
"Sophie has claimed both to love trans people and support Title IX," Rapinoe said on her podcast. "And this is where I think the accountability with having a major platform is extremely important."
Rapinoe also directed criticism toward Riley Gaines, describing her as someone who has made it "her life's mission to exclude trans people from public life." Rapinoe linked Gaines to the Heritage Foundation and its Project 2025 initiative, suggesting this group aims to repeal Title IX.
In response to the narrative that efforts to bar transgender athletes from women's sports are aimed at protecting young girls from men, Rapinoe stated, "To be clear, I would love to have that conversation and it's much needed in this country. But it frames the conversation as if we're protecting young girls from men being in WNBA locker rooms, not happening. It villainizes trans girls as if they're somehow magically older than their peers. Or are men, when in reality, they are also young girls. These laws are excluding kids. Kids from playing youth sports."
Rapinoe suggested that at the elite level, effective policies for including transgender athletes have been in place for years. She questioned the seriousness of those who believe current actions are protecting young girls in sports.
"So, if anybody is taking these talking points as legit or believing they're protecting young girls in sports? I just have to ask, are you serious?" Rapinoe asked. "Yes, people are serious.
Parents, female athletes and fans are serious about protecting single-sex sports, the very purpose Title IX was created to guarantee."
Rapinoe's remarks highlight a continuing debate within the sports community regarding gender identity and athletic participation. She advocates for inclusivity, while critics like Gaines and supporters of measures restricting transgender participation emphasize the importance of maintaining single-sex categories in sports to ensure fair competition for cisgender women.