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. All she wanted was to protect Title IX and "love biological women." Perhaps the worst response to the controversy came from the Seattle Storm's co-owner, Celeste Keaton. On July 28, Keaton encountered two teenage Cunningham fans who were attending the game wearing XX-XY T-shirts, which symbolize the biological differences between men and women. Keaton reportedly began yelling at the teenagers, calling them "f*cking insane." One of the girls left in tears. The Storm released a statement apologizing for Keaton's behavior, but still insisted that the sport be an "inclusive environment." The WNBA went further, fining Keaton and suspending her from the team's next five home games. Cunningham responded to the incident in a post on X, saying it was "Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is." In a similar fashion, two fans in the audience allegedly tried to trip a different teenage girl wearing an XX-XY shirt at a game, and then proceeded to laugh at her. The situation has only become more upsetting due to the response of Cunningham's fellow teammate, Caitlin Clark. Clark has become a household name and one of the WNBA's largest stars in its 30-year history. During a press conference, Clark brushed the issue of men being included in women's sports aside, saying that it wasn't a discussion that her team had ever had in their locker room. Instead, she stated that "It's for the leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes." When reporters pressed further, she didn't go into additional detail. While her answer comes across as neutral, it reveals that one of the WNBA's biggest stars isn't willing to stand up for protecting female athletes. The Fever's coach, Stephanie White, made her stance a bit more clear; when asked about whether a transgender athlete should be allowed to participate in WNBA games, White tried to shrug it off but insisted that "I don't think exclusion is the answer." It seems as though even WNBA officials are actively working against Cunningham. In a game against the Minnesota Lynx, she was playing defense against Lynx forward Nia Coffey. According to sports analysts, Cunningham stayed locked on her opponent and acted exactly the way she was supposed to as a 3-and-D specialist. When Coffey spun around to create separation, her elbow caught Cunningham squarely in the face. Officials stopped play to review the contact for a hostile act, found none, and called a defensive foul on Cunningham instead of an offensive foul on Coffey. The broadcast analysts covering the game disagreed with the call, and the replays only proved that Cunningham had acted appropriately. Many began realizing that the referees seemed to be targeting her as a response to her willingness to stand up for women's sports. Cunningham never came off the floor, playing through the blow and finishing out Indiana's 108-100 loss. Her refusal to leave the game was the perfect indication of both her physical and moral strength and courage. One of the few people who has rushed to Cunningham's aid isn't another WNBA player, but the swimmer who has become famous for speaking out about protecting women's sports, Riley Gaines . Gaines came to watch Cunningham at a game against the Lynx and posed with her for a photo afterward. Gaines noted how every time that Cunningham was on the court, angry fans booed her and held up pro-trans athlete signs targeting her. In an interview with Fox News , Gaines criticized the WNBA directly, saying that "The league doesn't have a problem with politics in sports. They have a problem with conservative politics in sports." The two women have been some of the most vocal about protecting women's sports, and although they have both suffered a great deal of heckling and abuse, their advocacy for preserving women's sports is admirable. Almost everyone involved in the WNBA is adamant that including biologically male athletes is more important than protecting women's sports. In light of the abuse Cunningham has suffered, it's difficult to believe that the WNBA is genuinely interested in protecting women. From coaches to teammates to fans, almost everyone involved in the WNBA is adamant that including biologically male athletes is more important than protecting women's sports. If the league genuinely cared about women, it wouldn't have targeted Cunningham with as much animosity as it has. Despite being the Women's National Basketball Association, it's putting its female players in jeopardy and disparaging or attacking the player who has been outspoken about her love for defending the sport. No, the WNBA isn't pro-woman, because if it were, it would celebrate Sophie Cunningham as a hero instead of a villain.