Loyalists of Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham held a demonstration in Portland on Friday, expressing support for the athlete at the center of the WNBA's debate over transgender athletes in women's sports. The protest occurred outside the Moda Center before the Fever-Fire game.
Videos posted online appeared to show a small crowd holding signs thanking Cunningham for her stance against transgender athletes participating in women's sports. One individual was seen making an 'X' gesture with their arms, associated with the brand XX-XY Athletics, which promotes opposition to transgender athletes in women's sports.
These demonstrations follow a national news incident in Seattle earlier in the week. WNBA Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton reportedly confronted two young Cunningham supporters holding signs courtside, allegedly calling them "f***ing insane." The WNBA subsequently banned Keaton from her team's next five home games. The Seattle Storm organization has since apologized for the incident.
In Seattle, Brandi Kruse, a reporter credited with organizing the protest, told Fox News Digital that some fans were heard relentlessly booing the young supporters, even as she defended them as "just teenage girls."
Another video shared by Fox News purportedly shows an angry Storm supporter spitting in the direction of a Fever fan after Indiana's 105-95 victory, though this has not been corroborated. Other fans were also recorded berating the young Cunningham supporters.
The controversy was amplified after Cunningham stated in an ESPN interview that women "shouldn't have to go against biological men." The two girls seen holding signs in Seattle wore shirts from XX-XY Athletics.
Cunningham later responded on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. 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."
Further protests are planned, including one in Minneapolis on Sunday ahead of the Indiana Fever's game against the Minnesota Lynx. XX-XY Athletics founder and former Team USA gymnast Jennifer Sey is slated to lead the demonstration in Minneapolis. Sey has been a vocal advocate for the "save women's sports" movement.