Sophie Cunningham’s firm stance about loving the LGBTQ+ community but still being against trans athletes competing against women appears to have crossed the seas.
On Monday, longtime columnist Howard Bryant pushed back on the Indiana Fever star’s claims via an op-ed in The Guardian.
Sports Reporter Rips Columnist Over Sophie Cunningham-Colin Kaepernick Comparison
Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes continue to fuel debate well beyond the sports world, with media personalities now openly clashing over what her stance represents.
A few weeks ago, Cunningham told ESPN’s Hallie Grossman that she has nothing against transgender athletes but believes they should not compete against biological women. The Fever guard stressed that her position is not politically motivated, saying it is rooted in her belief that girls and women deserve protection in sports.
Not everyone accepted that explanation, though.
Veteran columnist Bryant argued that Cunningham’s comments had become inherently political, accusing her of becoming “the right’s anti-Black, anti-transgender culture war ambassador, the role originally intended for Caitlin Clark.”
Bryant continued: “Cunningham plays the role of the blithe and bubbly iconoclast, oblivious to the world around, as she unapologetically speaks her truths, but she is every bit as political as Colin Kaepernick.”
The comparison quickly drew a forceful rebuttal from OutKick columnist Bobby Burack, who described Bryant’s take as “wild” before delivering tit for tat.
“It’s hardly surprising to see a career-long racial idolater like Howard Bryant try to diminish Cunningham while scoring political points. Bryant has spent years trying to elevate his standing with the cool kids in sports media, especially after his arrest,” Burack wrote.
Burack then turned to Cunningham’s original comments to emphasize where he thought Bryant was wrong.
“Sophie Cunningham is not engaging in partisan politics by saying little girls shouldn’t have to compete against biological males. That’s not a political statement. Nearly 80% of Americans agree with her. That includes Democrats, Republicans and independents.”
Burack concluded: “Sophie Cunningham’s resistance to subscribing to that distorted worldview doesn’t make her “every bit as political as” Colin Kaepernick. To most Americans, it makes her relatable.”
The back-and-forth reflects the broader reaction Cunningham has faced since sharing what she described as her personal morals. Over the past several weeks, demonstrations from both supporters and critics have followed Fever games.
Despite Bryant’s criticism, Cunningham has shown no sign of changing her position.
In her interview with Grossman, she said she refuses to let others place her into what she called “a fake box,” adding that she intends to remain true to herself regardless of how the public chooses to view her.
