ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has sharply criticized Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve for wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt during a WNBA game. Smith suggested Reeve's actions, particularly during a matchup with Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, were detrimental to the league and its sponsors.
Cunningham had previously publicly advocated for women-only athletic competitions. Smith questioned Reeve's decision to wear the shirt, which he described as "activist grandstanding," stating it showed "no regard for the WNBA. No regard for the sponsors that may be put off by that. No regard for the bottom line that might be affected."
Smith asserted that Reeve's choice was not a coincidence, calling it "selfishness" that prioritized personal statements over the league's well-being. He argued that as a coach of a women's basketball team, Reeve should be more mindful of the potential disadvantages faced by female athletes competing against transgender women.
"You are a coach for a female basketball team. Do you not think that females are being screwed over if they have to compete against an individual born as a male?" Smith questioned. He emphasized that while people should not be against transgender athletes, their inclusion in women's sports should not come at the expense of cisgender women.
Smith's comments align with sentiments expressed by others who support women-only sports. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has received support for her stance on women's competition, with rallies planned in her favor. Meanwhile, activist Riley Gaines and XX-XY Athletics founder Jen Sey have also voiced their support for Cunningham's position.
Smith urged that empathy and practical considerations need not be mutually exclusive. He stated, "To the trans athletes out there: people are not against you, like some people may lead you to believe. There are a lot of people who are empathetic and sympathetic to the challenges that you face... and want you to live your best life. But it can't be at the expense of young ladies born as girls, raised as girls, evolving into women ... You don't have the right to impede upon women's sports."
Smith concluded by suggesting that the WNBA needs to prioritize its core athletes and future generations rather than allowing coaches to use the league as a platform for political statements that could alienate fans and sponsors.