The WNBA Isn’t Pro-Woman

When the league was started in 1996, it was intended to showcase the talents of American female basketball players. Unfortunately, over the years, the WNBA hasn’t lived up to those promises. Its treatment of Sophie Cunningham and its advocacy for transgender athletes are proof of its bias.

Last month, the Indiana Fever’s guard, Sophie Cunningham, made headlines when she made the not-so-shocking claim that women’s sports leagues should only be for women. In an ESPN profile, Cunningham stated that she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” When asked to back down on her insistence on keeping men out of women’s sports, Cunningham doubled down: “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense, and I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved. I stand on what I said.” She went on to explain that she wasn’t very political and that her comments weren’t intended to hurt anyone or encourage hatred of the transgender community. All she wanted was to protect Title IX and “love biological women.”

Media outlets and progressive activists immediately began attacking Cunningham. Fans with transgender and gay pride flags began showing up at games, and men with bullhorns began chants of “Protect trans women” outside of her games. Other protesters specifically targeted Cunningham’s fans, referring to them as “c*nts.” Members of the WNBA also began pushing back against Cunningham’s insistence on preserving the integrity of exclusively female athletic spaces. Cunningham’s own team made no attempt to back her up. Instead, it released a statement that “encouraged inclusivity” among fans, which aligned with its history of holding pro-LGBT events. The coach for the Minnesota Lynx, Cheryl Reeve, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Trans Kids Belong” during her team’s game against the Fever. Inside the arena, dozens of fans wore similar shirts. Natalie Nakase, the coach for the Golden State Valkyries, addressed the issue as well. Instead of standing up for women’s sports and Title IX, she advocated for allowing transgender athletes into the league. She stated that “Sports is about belonging. It’s about inclusivity. I’m about allowing everyone to be their authentic self … that includes trans women.” Portland’s coach, Alex Sarama, agreed, stating his full support for the trans community.