New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart addressed the WNBA’s broad platform as competing rallies outside arenas continue following Sophie Cunningham’s controversial statements on transgender athletes.
Ahead of Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever, Stewart emphasized that while public scrutiny is surging, the league must preserve its inclusive environment.
Breanna Stewart Urges Unity as Sophie Cunningham Transgender Athlete Debate Shakes WNBA
When Fever guard Cunningham revealed her stance on trans athletes participating in women’s sports during an ESPN interview, she set off a massive chain reaction across the WNBA.
Demonstrations quickly popped up outside arenas in Seattle, Chicago, and Dallas, and by the time the Fever traveled to Brooklyn to face the New York Liberty, competing rallies were planned right outside Barclays Center.
Historically, Liberty’s Stewart has been one of the WNBA’s most vocal champions for social justice and a strong ally to the transgender community.
Ahead of the match, when reporters asked her about the situation, Stewart carefully chose her words to emphasize unity and belonging.
“Knowing that rallies are happening on both sides shows the platform that the W has, and the stunts for attention are just continuing to try and ride the wave that we have,” she said.
For Stewart, the main priority is protecting the welcoming environment the league has built over the decades.
“The inclusivity of the league is the big thing for me. I don’t want to turn anyone away at the door because that’s not right either. But I know for a fact that people have safe space here when they come to these games, and that’s something that … is really precious, and you have to hold on to and make sure that doesn’t change.”
Calling the league’s history of standing together “our superpower,” Stewart acknowledged that fans and players hold different opinions and ultimately deferred to the WNBA and its task force to establish clear rules.
Cunningham, on the other hand, stood firmly by her original stance while brushing off the noise outside the building. The 30-year-old guard noted that demonstrators using her name and past comments are “nothing new” at this point.
While she thinks “it’s cool people are using their freedom of speech,” she insisted her focus remained strictly on the game itself.
Following their media appearances, Stewart and Cunningham faced off on the court. The three-time champion, Stewart, let her performance do the talking on the floor. She poured in a team-high 22 points to lead New York to a 109-102 victory over the Fever.
The win boosted the Liberty to 23-15, helping them secure crucial ground in a tightly packed playoff picture alongside Indiana (24-14).
