Sophie Cunningham inspires young athletes to speak out on protecting girls' sports
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham's vocal support for women's sports is lauded by high school athletes Briley Lechner and Ella Frei on Fox News. Lechner describes unfair competition against a biological male, and Frei details her lawsuit over school locker room safety. This segment highlights a growing movement for female athletes' rights amid national debate.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke out in support of Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham on Thursday after Cunningham spoke out publicly in support of protecting women's sports from transgender athletes.
"Men should not be playing in women's sports. It's completely ludicrous that anyone could support that," Leavitt told reporters.
"It's even more ludicrous that you do have Sophie Cunningham, a female athlete herself, very accomplished in her own right, coming forth and speaking that truth that men should(n't) play in women's sports. The backlash she is receiving from Democrats and left-wing figures across the country is astonishing. They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue, which again, is an 80/20 issue. It's common sense."
Cunningham sent shockwaves in the ongoing culture war over the WNBA and trans athletes in women's sports on Tuesday after revealing her stance on the issue to ESPN.
"I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" Cunningham said.
"I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM MANAGES TO ANGER BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH A SIMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POST
An Indianapolis man was charged with allegedly stalking Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and threatening a Pacers security executive who intervened. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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Cunningham doubled down on her statement while speaking to reporters on Wednesday ahead of the Fever's win against the Connecticut Sun.
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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) plays in the first half against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
"I think I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense," she said.
"I'll always believe in that. It's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category... I'm not a very political person, but I do have beliefs. I have morals, and I'll always stand on those... I extend love, and I don't dislike anyone. I think there is room for absolutely everyone here."
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
