A series of protests supporting WNBA player Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes is expected to continue, with planned demonstrations in Portland and Minneapolis. The controversy intensified following an incident in Seattle where a team co-owner allegedly confronted young fans displaying signs in support of Cunningham.
Cunningham, a player for the Indiana Fever, recently commented on the importance of "protecting young girls" from transgender athletes in sports. These remarks have fueled a contentious debate and led to rallies outside WNBA arenas.
Two further protests are scheduled in the coming days. The first is planned for Friday evening outside the Portland Fire's Moda Center before their game against the Fever. The second demonstration is slated for Sunday outside the Minnesota Lynx's arena ahead of their matchup with the Fever.
The Seattle incident, which occurred outside the Climate Pledge Arena prior to a game, involved Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton. According to reports, Keaton confronted two young girls who had signs supporting Cunningham and the "protect women's sports" movement. The girls accused Keaton of calling them "f***ing insane" and berating them. The Seattle Storm has since apologized for the incident, and Keaton has been suspended by the team for five games.
Amy Sousa, an activist based in Washington state who was involved in organizing the Seattle protest, stated that the group initially intended a quieter demonstration. However, the events involving Keaton prompted them to make their presence more public. The Portland rally is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. local time on Friday.
The protest on Sunday in Minneapolis is being organized by Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics and a former Team USA gymnastics champion. Sey has been a vocal advocate for the "save women's sports" movement.
Cunningham's comments have brought the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports to national attention. She has stated her belief that women "shouldn't have to go against biological men." The two young girls in Seattle reportedly wore t-shirts made by XX-XY.
Following the Seattle incident, Cunningham addressed the situation on social media, expressing a belief in inclusivity while also supporting the young fans. "I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY," she wrote on X. "Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon. Yay for gifts. Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is."