The transgender athlete debate, sparked by Sophie Cunningham’s conversation with ESPN in July, continues to generate strong reactions. Sports columnist Matt Calkins also tried to weigh in, but claims The Seattle Times spiked his piece.
After announcing his resignation from publication on Thursday, Calkins shared more details on his piece during a conversation on “Katie Pavlich Tonight.”
Matt Calkins Shares Details on His Transgender Athlete Column for The Seattle Times
Addressing his rejected column for The Seattle Times, Calkins shared the premise of his piece. He explained how it captured the perspective of two girls he met at the rally outside Climate Pledge Arena ahead of the Seattle Storm vs. Indiana Fever game on July 28.
“I talked to a couple of girls who were opposed to biological males competing in women’s sports,” Calkins said. “One had lost to a biological male in a race … another refused to play a game against a biological male.”
Calkins continued:“These two girls were basically saying, ‘this isn’t an anti-trans movement, this is just a pro girls, pro women’s moment,’ that was pretty much the premise.”
“I felt like I couldn’t quite do my job as a sports columnist.”
WATCH: @Matt_Calkins joins Katie to discuss his decision to resign from the Seattle Times after his pieces about women’s sports – and those impacted by biological men competing against women – were shot down by… pic.twitter.com/6WbKSLF9RZ
— Katie Pavlich Tonight (@KatiePavlichNN) August 21, 2026
Further explaining his decision to resign, Calkins said:
“It wasn’t an emotional decision. … I felt like I couldn’t quite do my job as a sports columnist.”
Calkins also announced his resignation on X on Thursday.
“After 11 years as a sports columnist at the Seattle Times, I have decided to resign,” he wrote. “It was entirely my choice, and it was not an easy one. The impetus was The Times declining to run a column I wrote from the perspective of two female student athletes who were opposed to competing against biological males. It was one of several pieces of mine that had been spiked, and I no longer felt like I could properly do my job as a columnist.”
After 11 years as a sports columnist at the Seattle Times, I have decided to resign. It was entirely my choice, and it was not an easy one. The impetus was the Times declining to run a column I wrote from the perspective of two female student athletes who were opposed to…
— Matt Calkins (@Matt_Calkins) August 20, 2026
Calkins said his column argued that supporting a ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports was not grounds for labeling someone a “bigot.” He also shared how several of his other columns that went “against the grain” were spiked by The Seattle Times.
See Also: WNBA World Reacts As Enes Kanter Alleges NBA Players Are Ready to Declare As Trans Athletes
Representatives from The Seattle Times have yet to comment on Calkins’ claims.
The WNBA has become a major focal point in the debate surrounding transgender athletes. The debate has also extended beyond the Indiana Fever and Cunningham, with rallies taking place even when the Fever are not scheduled to play.
Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom has also declared for the 2027 WNBA draft, arguing that he meets “every single requirement” necessary to play.
Calkins’ resignation from The Seattle Times and the events leading up to it have added another layer to the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports.
