Two podcast hosts from The Athletic, a New York Times-owned outlet, have criticized Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and political activist Riley Gaines for their vocal stance on transgender participation in women's sports. Charlotte Wilder and Madeline Hill, hosts of The Sports Gossip Show, suggested Cunningham and Gaines are engaging in a "right-wing grift" through their advocacy.
During a segment titled "Sophie Cunningham's right-wing grift," Hill questioned Cunningham's eight-year WNBA career and athletic achievements, implying her public comments were a strategic move for a post-basketball career in conservative media. Wilder similarly dismissed Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, calling her "not even a very good one," despite Gaines's collegiate accolades including three Southeastern Conference individual titles.
The podcast hosts also characterized signs and apparel displayed by young fans at WNBA games in support of Cunningham and Gaines as "anti-trans." They further suggested that teenage girls supporting the athletes lacked critical thinking skills.
This commentary follows weeks of national debate sparked by Cunningham's advocacy for restrictions on transgender athletes in female sports to "protect young girls." Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and activist, attended a recent Indiana Fever game to support Cunningham.
During the game, Gaines reported that a WNBA staffer asked her to remove a sign that read "Sophie, Thank You - A Girl Mom." She claimed the staffer cited the presence of a name on the sign as the reason, despite numerous other signs in the arena. Gaines stated that she had checked the arena's sign policies beforehand and that her sign complied with size regulations.
Video shared by a friend of Gaines indicated a WNBA staffer asking her to put the sign down. Gaines later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she was the only person asked to remove a sign, despite many others displaying trans paraphernalia. According to Gaines, the staffer later returned and apologized, and she was ultimately permitted to keep her sign.
Following the game, Gaines and Cunningham posed for a photo together, with Gaines posting on Instagram, "I show up for @sophie_cham because she shows up for my daughter." Cunningham, while not publicly commenting on the incident, liked the post.
The events occurred amid heightened tensions and public debate surrounding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. Protests were also noted outside the venue ahead of the game.
