The reporter wanted an apology. Sophie Cunningham gave her a three-word answer instead: "I said what I said."
The Indiana Fever shooting guard sat down for an ESPN interview this week expecting questions about basketball. What she got was a pressure campaign dressed up as journalism — a reporter pushing her to walk back her stance that biological men shouldn't compete in women's sports. Cunningham didn't flinch.
"I think it's kind of common sense, and I think I'll always believe in that," Cunningham told reporters after her ESPN interview came out standing up for young girls in sports. Then she went further. "I think it's really important to protect children and that's little girls. I do have beliefs. I do have morals, and I'll always stand on those."
Not exactly the tearful recantation the press was hoping for.
Here's what set off liberals. Back in 2022 Cunningham reshared CBS Sports criticism of Lia Thomas. Thomas is the collegiate swimmer who tied with Riley Gaines for first place, but was given the first place award solely as a cultural icon for being transgender. The woke mob accused Cunningham of "hating trans" people for the sin of retweeting the article and waited for the standard celebrity surrender. It never came. Instead, Cunningham clarified that she supports "all races, religions, sexual preferences and gender equity" — and then held her ground on the sports question without budging an inch.
"I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men," Cunningham said in the ESPN feature. That's the position that has the WNBA commentariat calling for suspensions and sponsors to pull deals from the Indiana Fever team.
The response from elected officials was immediate. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas responded with two words: "Well said." Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri posted "Missouri proud," Cunningham played college ball at the University of Missouri. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama pointed out that Title IX depends on "no men in women's sports, showers, or locker rooms." Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona called her remarks "common sense."
Former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines — who's spent every year after her college took away her first place finish in favor of Lia Thomas, urged people to "be a Sophie Cunningham." Tennis legend Martina Navratilova amplified a post stating "boys are not women or girls." Former Levi's executive Jennifer Sey predicted sponsors wouldn't punish Cunningham for the comments.
The woke mob is demanding Cunningham be disciplined under the WNBA's "No Space for Hate" policy. Which raises an interesting question about what exactly constitutes "hate" — stating a biological fact that 70% of Americans agree with, or demanding a female athlete apologize for wanting to compete and share a locker room with only other females.
This is the same Sophie Cunningham who went viral in June after a heated fourth-quarter game between her Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury. The footage of her pointing and trolling DeWanna Bonner became an instant meme. The finger-point queen earned her crown by refusing to back down on the court. Now she's refusing to back down off it.
Cunningham plays alongside Caitlin Clark — the most talked-about player in women's basketball. She's now eclipsed Clark as the most-searched women's athlete in America, according to Sports Illustrated. Cunningham also has one of the top ten best selling jerseys in the WNBA. Not because of a crossover dribble or a game-winner. Because she said "no" to woke mob.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 this term in favor of West Virginia and Idaho laws requiring biological sex eligibility for women's sports. The legal framework is moving in one direction. Public opinion — at 70% — is moving in the same direction. The only people still pretending this is a close call are the ones with microphones trying to manufacture apologies that never come.
Cunningham was asked to bend the knee. She pointed a finger instead.