WNBA veteran Sophie Cunningham has broken her silence regarding former NBA forward Enes Kanter Freedom's controversial actions aimed at influencing the league's policies on transgender athletes.
Cunningham, who has publicly expressed her stance against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, stated her intention to remain focused on her team, the Indiana Fever, and the ongoing WNBA season. "I'm gonna let them do them," Cunningham told ESPN. "I'm just focused on the Fever and on our sport. I think we have four more games left. I'm trying to just really dial in and keep the main thing the main thing."
Kanter Freedom and former NBA player Royce White have announced intentions to join the WNBA, a move seen as a protest to advocate for the exclusion of transgender athletes. The WNBA currently does not have any players who were assigned male at birth competing in the league.
Kanter Freedom has cited Cunningham's previous comments as inspiration for his actions and has suggested a connection between them. Following an incident where Kanter Freedom was ejected from a Chicago Sky game for a courtside confrontation with Natasha Cloud, he claimed Cunningham had texted him about the event. "What happened?" she reportedly asked, according to Kanter Freedom, who described Cunningham as an "idol" and "American hero" for her perceived stance.
During the game from which he was ejected, Kanter Freedom wore a T-shirt that defined 'woman' as 'Adult human female,' with the words 'woman' and 'female' highlighted. He later filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago Sky, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and the City of Chicago, alleging his ejection was an unjust violation of his First Amendment rights. Kanter Freedom stated in a social media post that his shirt "defined a woman" and that he would not be intimidated or silenced.
Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter responded to the lawsuit, calling it "meritless and frivolous" and expressing confidence that the truth would prevail in court.
Royce White, another former NBA player who has transitioned to conservative politics, has also engaged in similar demonstrations, attending a WNBA game wearing a wig as part of his effort to enter the league's draft. White played briefly in the NBA before shifting his focus to politics, recently losing a U.S. Senate primary in Minnesota.