On Monday, Sophie Cunningham’s comments about transgender athletes shook social media. The Indiana Fever star shared her firm stance about protecting “young girls” from competing against “biological men.”
Cunningham’s controversial stance prompted Stephen A. Smith to share his thoughts on the reverberating issue.
Stephen A. Smith Uses NBA Scenario to Address Sophie Cunningham’s Trans Athlete Stance
Cunningham shared her political belief during an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Hallie Grossman. The former Phoenix Mercury guard reacted to being called a “MAGA Barbie” and pushed back about criticism that she supposedly hates transgender people.
The 6-foot-1 guard insisted that she only has “love,” but was adamant that young girls and women have to be protected against “biological men” in sports. Cunningham refused to back down from that position when the media asked for clarification on Wednesday.
On Thursday’s “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” the host gave his take on Cunningham’s viewpoint and the backlash she has received for standing on what she said.
“What if an NBA player decided to transition to playing in the WNBA? How elite would they be? How great would they be? We gotta put stuff in its proper perspective and call it like it is. … You can’t look out for trans athletes at the expense of biological women! … Sophie Cunningham is 1000% right!,” Smith said.
“What if an NBA player decided to transition to playing in the WNBA? How elite would they be? How great would they be? We gotta put stuff in its proper perspective and call it like it is” – Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM pic.twitter.com/dzxAFCZe9X
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 23, 2026
Smith emphasized that he supports the LGBTQ+ community, civil rights, and liberties, but added that he had to draw a line. The sports talk show host offered a solution to the issue of transgender athletes wanting to compete.
“Just like there’s a sport for men, there should be a sport for women. Get a sport for trans athletes! … You wanna swim? Compete against other trans athletes. You wanna box? Compete against other trans athletes. You wanna box? Compete against trans athletes. … It’s very simple,” Smith added.
Smith underlined the issue as “simple,” while Cunningham called her stance “common sense.”
The issue isn’t as straightforward, though, based on the resistance. Liberals have been pushing to remove boundaries for transgender athletes. To address the polarizing issue, U.S. President Donald Trump, the central figure behind the MAGA movement, signed an executive order that prevents biological men from competing in girls’ or women’s sports.
The order, issued in February 2025, has pushed the NCAA to align its policies, according to ESPN.
Amid the repercussions, Cunningham said that she would not falter in her beliefs and morals. Smith is supporting her by giving an NBA scenario to prove her point.
