Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has called on the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) media to refocus on the sport itself, stating that coverage often extends beyond basketball achievements. Her remarks come as rallies supporting her stance on protecting women's sports have occurred at recent Fever games, drawing the league into the national conversation about transgender athletes.
"The WNBA media, all we ever do is cover everything except basketball," Cunningham told reporters on Wednesday. "You can talk about other things, those are great stories, it shows fans who people (are) outside of the court, but I think we gotta keep the main thing the main thing."
Cunningham's comments follow a period of intense media attention, particularly after an ESPN article quoted her expressing support for the protection of women's sports. Cunningham stated the interview for that piece occurred earlier in the year.
"I want to get back to basketball," Cunningham reiterated. "I just want to make sure that the focus stays where it should because people are playing at such a high level."
The rallies at Fever games have highlighted the broader debate over transgender athletes in women's sports, prompting statements from several league coaches. During the Fever's recent game against the Minnesota Lynx, Cunningham engaged in a discussion with Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who was wearing a shirt advocating for transgender children.
"Yeah, she just came up and I respect her for coming up in person," Cunningham said of the interaction with Reeve. "I think a lot of people hide behind screens and love that type of thing. She had stories about her point of view and I had stories about my point of view and we left with love and respect and I think that’s what it’s all about."
Other players, including Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, have largely sought to distance themselves from the controversy. Following a loss to the Lynx, Clark stated that discussions about the issue are not prevalent in the team's locker room and that solutions should be determined by leagues and governing bodies. She declined to elaborate further on her personal stance.
During a post-game news conference for the Fever's game against the Portland Fire, head coach Stephanie White addressed the issue. Clark was not made available to reporters, and when other available players, Aliyah Boston and Makayla Timpson, were asked questions related to Cunningham's stance, the conference was reportedly ended abruptly as they left the podium.
The Indiana Fever are navigating a critical part of their season, with upcoming games against the Las Vegas Aces and the Chicago Sky. Another rally in support of Cunningham is scheduled to take place at the Sky game.