Sophie Cunningham sparked a big debate in the WNBA by revealing her stance against the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports last month.
With such a sensitive topic at the forefront of media headlines, Dwyane Wade has come out and spoken about his daughter Zaya’s journey coming out as a trans woman and the trials and tribulations that came with it.
Dwyane Wade on His Daughter Zaya’s Journey as a Trans Woman
Wade, along with Zaya, started the Translatable Ball. It serves as an annual charity masquerade and ballroom event. Its purpose is to provide the LGBTQIA+ community a safe space to express themselves while raising funds for trans youth while spreading awareness.
The Heat legend spoke about this on ‘The Check In‘ podcast.
“I love that for her. I love her commitment…. She loves [the community] so much that she’s willing to do something to uplift and give platform to because she understands how fortunate she has been.”
Wade went on to speak about how he sympathizes with his daughter having to come up in the public eye.
“I love that she’s embracing, who she is and my kids got to do it in front of the world a little bit. And that got to suck. That has to suck, you know, to grow up in front of the world and all your decisions, all your choices are under scrutiny from everybody.”
The Wades have faced considerable online backlash since Zaya’s transition. However, they have never shied away from the spotlight. Now, they’ve become some of the most prominent in the space regarding promoting public acceptance.
The success of the 2026 Translatable ball is proof of it. Zaya called it the “perfect birthday” on her Instagram post and spoke to Teen Vogue about the event’s significance.
“I hope [guests] understand that even though this is a masquerade, we are not meant to be hidden; we are meant to be seen. You can do whatever you want, you can express whatever you want, you can be whoever you want, and there’s no judgment.”
At merely 19 years old, she’s helped launch a platform that provides a safer space for acceptance and expression, and it doesn’t seem as though she’ll be slowing down any time soon.
Meanwhile, Wade’s comments come amid increasing scrutiny and debate on whether trans athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Supporters on both sides of the debate have held demonstrations outside WNBA arenas in recent weeks, and the issue has become increasingly polarizing across the country.
