Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham is perhaps the most discussed athlete in women’s sports at the moment. Her comments about transgender athletes have sparked fresh dialogue within the league, and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was the latest eminent personality to weigh in on the debate.
Cheryl Reeve Weighs in on Sophie Cunningham’s Controversial Comments
Reeve spoke to the media recently and detailed her stance on the recent protests and the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports.
She said, “Everyone has a right to peacefully assemble. Whether you agree with them or not, it doesn’t matter. I think you can have an opinion in this space… In terms of my views, I come from a place of inclusion.”
Cheryl Reeve speaking on the trans rally that is planned prior to the Indiana Fever game Sunday and her views around trans athletes and Women’s sports
Full video below: I don’t feel it’s right to clip or cut out snippets for quotes, so if you have time, give it a listen. pic.twitter.com/56NAo30aPq
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) August 1, 2026
“We need to protect trans kids,” Reeve continued. “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has the right to sports. Every kid has the right to access.”
Last week, in an interview with ESPN, Cunningham ignited controversy after opening up about her stance on the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports.
The rallies supporting the Fever star’s take made additional headlines following the Fever’s recent road game in Seattle, as Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was fined and suspended after reportedly confronting fans holding pro-Cunningham signs.
While the Lynx head coach suggested there’s room for discussion regarding trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports, kids should be protected.
Meanwhile, Fever head coach Stephanie White said that while she was ‘not educated enough’ to offer a nuanced verdict on the debate, she was ‘frustrated’ at the focus shifting away from Indiana’s basketball product.
“There is a frustration, of course, because we want to talk about basketball and we want to continue to work on our game, and we want to continue to grow as a team,” White said. “But I also understand, like this is part of our growth edge as a league, right? We have to be able to insulate as much as we can, and then we have to be able to lead with conversation.”
In light of the ongoing debate, Cunningham expressed support for her fans but also emphasized that her focus was more on producing at her best level on the court.
With another rally scheduled in Minneapolis as the Lynx host the Fever, the debate on Cunningham’s stance on trans athlete participation in women’s sports is unlikely to cool down anytime soon.
Indiana, nonetheless, will do its best to remain focused on its championship ambitions, having notched five straight wins and currently in a promising position with a 19-10 record.
