White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke out in support of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on Thursday after the WNBA player expressed her view that transgender athletes should be barred from competing in women’s sports, according to Foxnews.
White House Backs WNBA Guard Sophie Cunningham
“Men should not be playing in women’s sports. It’s completely ludicrous that anyone could support that,” Leavitt told reporters, adding that the backlash Cunningham received from Democrats and left-wing figures was “astonishing.”
The controversy began when ESPN published a profile on Cunningham on July 21, in which the basketball player discussed trans participation in sports, stating that she wanted to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” as reported by USA Today.
Cunningham Doubles Down Ahead of Fever Game
Cunningham reiterated her remarks on Wednesday ahead of the Indiana Fever’s 123-88 victory over the Connecticut Sun, stating to reporters that her stance was “common sense,” according to The New York Times.
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said before the game. “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 in that category. I stand on what I said.”
While addressing the feedback, Cunningham denied holding animosity toward the transgender community. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she stated, adding that she aims to extend love while speaking what she considers to be truth.
Political Context and Public Reaction
Cunningham’s comments arrived amid broader national debates over transgender athletes in sports, a topic that gained renewed attention following a Supreme Court ruling upholding individual state bans on trans athletes, which came roughly a year after an executive order from President Donald Trump attempting to block trans athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Cunningham also noted the importance of Title IX, the 1972 gender equality law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs.
Describing her political alignment, Cunningham noted that she considers herself “very much in the middle,” agreeing and disagreeing with elements from both sides of the political spectrum.
The remarks drew varied responses. While high school athletes Briley Lechner and Ella Frei voiced support for Cunningham on Fox News, her comments also sparked intense criticism and calls for discipline on social media, including from sportscaster Chris Williamson, who posted on X that “The WNBA needs to suspend her,” as noted by Yahoo Sports.
The Indiana Fever released a statement following the pregame comments emphasizing that the franchise’s players are independent adults with their own viewpoints, while affirming the organization’s commitment to welcoming fans from every background.
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