Sophie Cunningham Faces Backlash over Women’s Sports Stance

WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has become a center of controversy following her defense of women’s sports. This has led to calls for the Indiana Fever to distance themselves from the guard. In a discussion on Fox News, contributor Kat Timpf and podcast host Kennedy joined Ainsley Earhardt to explore the situation. They noted that a majority of the population supports Cunningham’s stance, which was a topic in a recent episode of ‘the Girls’ podcast.

After a New York Times column urged the Fever to let Cunningham go, she responded directly, saying: “Suck it.” Cunningham addressed the backlash on her podcast, “No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen,” asserting that outside opinions no longer influence her life choices.

The New York Times-owned The Athletic published an article on October 6, suggesting that Cunningham’s outspoken views had become a distraction for her team. As her contract approaches unrestricted free agency, this issue has gained attention. Protests both for and against her position on transgender athletes in women’s sports have occurred outside Fever games. Cunningham remains unfazed, stating that the rallies do not distract her team.

Co-host Drew Hanlen criticized the column, labeling it a “hate piece.” He refuted claims about her performance, emphasizing Cunningham’s rank among top bench scorers and three-point shooters in the WNBA. Hanlen highlighted her 60.8% effective field goal percentage.

Cunningham, during the regular season, averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. She had a three-point shooting percentage of 41.9% across 43 games, with three starts. Despite these stats, she insists her impact goes beyond numbers, saying, “No matter what anyone says to me, I’m going to continue to do me.”

Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, frequently covers political and cultural issues within sports. His investigations have been cited in significant media outlets and government actions related to Title IX.