Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham faced audible boos every time she touched the ball during a game in Toronto, reportedly in response to her past comments regarding biological males in women's locker rooms. Cunningham responded to the crowd's reaction by making all three of her 3-point attempts, contributing to the Fever's 101-95 victory.
After the game, Cunningham addressed the crowd's response, stating, "I want to shout out the Tempo crowd and the city. We've had so much fun. The crowd was absolutely amazing. I think that’s what sports is all about. You’re going to get boos and you’re going to get cheers."
Cunningham's comments that have drawn criticism were made to ESPN approximately one month prior. She stated, "I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."
This sentiment has reportedly been a point of contention, with instances like a Minnesota coach wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" shirt during a previous game against the Fever.
Despite the hostile reception in Toronto, Cunningham's performance included her successful 3-pointers, underscoring her focus on the game. She remarked after the game, "The Big Three are going to do their thing every night. Like I said, I'm just gonna come, have some fun, maybe inspire some young girls to come beat me one day."