Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever refused to address a pregame rally held in her name on Tuesday. The demonstration unfolded outside Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena ahead of the Fever vs Storm WNBA matchup.
Demonstrators Hold Sophie Cunningham Rally Before Fever vs Storm Clash
In an ESPN feature last week, Cunningham voiced support for excluding transgender athletes from women's sports. Before Tuesday night's tip-off, a few dozen people gathered outside the arena to back her stance. The Sophie Cunningham rally also promoted two Washington state ballot initiatives aimed at barring transgender students from girls sports.
The Fever moved quickly to distance themselves from any controversy. The team said neither the organization nor Cunningham had any knowledge of the event or contact with its organizers.
"Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission," the team said.
After the final buzzer, the team kept both Cunningham and Caitlin Clark away from postgame media. Neither took questions about the rally or the surrounding fallout.
But earlier in the week, Cunningham stood firm on her position. Speaking to reporters before a game against the Connecticut Sun, she showed no interest in walking back her comments.
"I think it's kind of common sense," Cunningham said via The Athletic. "It's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said."
