WNBA Star Sophie Cunningham Applauds High School Girls' Cross Country Protest
Cunningham voiced support for athletes who refused to compete against a transgender runner, as Washington prepares to vote on a similar ban.
WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has publicly supported high school girls who staged a protest during a cross country race in Washington by refusing to compete against a transgender athlete. The incident, which gained national attention after footage went viral, occurred earlier this week at a meet in Camas, Washington.
Approximately a dozen female runners from Camas High School opted not to start the race after learning they would be competing against a runner who had recently switched from the boys' to the girls' competition. This runner, a junior at Camas High, had competed in the male division as recently as September 5.
Cunningham, who has previously spoken out about her desire to "protect young girls... who shouldn't have to go against biological men," commented on social media, "Good work girls," in response to a post by XX-XY Athletics, an apparel brand that advocates for women's sports.
The protest comes as Washington voters prepare to decide on Initiative 638, a ballot measure that would ban transgender athletes from participating in K-12 girls' sports. The initiative is scheduled for a vote on November 3.
Supporters of Initiative 638, including the conservative-backed political action committee Let's Go Washington, are expressing optimism about its potential passage. Preliminary polling reportedly indicates that a majority of Washington voters favor the ban. A poll conducted by Let's Go Washington earlier this month showed 56 percent support for the initiative, according to KUOW.
Nationally, a Pew Research Center poll from last year found that 66 percent of Americans support policies requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams aligning with their sex at birth. Currently, 27 states have implemented policies separating biological males from women's sports in K-12 athletics, though these were enacted by state legislatures rather than popular vote.
If Washington voters approve Initiative 638, it would mark the first time a state has enacted such a policy through a public vote. This development also comes in a state that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
The protest and upcoming vote in Washington contrast with federal actions. In February 2025, the President signed an executive order aimed at restricting transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. However, Washington's Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, spoke out against the federal order, calling it an attempt to coerce schools into discriminating against transgender female athletes. Reykdal stated that state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and that Washington would not abandon this principle.