Sophie Cunningham Faces Backlash Over Stance on Women’s Sports

WNBA player Sophie Cunningham is under scrutiny following her outspoken defense of women’s sports. A New York Times column suggested the Indiana Fever should part ways with her due to the controversy. In response, Cunningham bluntly said, ‘Suck it.’

Fox News contributor Kat Timpf and podcast host Kennedy discussed the situation with Ainsley Earhardt. They noted that 80% of the country reportedly supports Cunningham’s position. The controversy also linked to a new episode of ‘the Girls’ podcast.

Cunningham appeared on ‘No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen,’ where she addressed the criticism. She declared that she no longer allows outside opinions to influence her life. ‘If you’re going to live by the praise, you’ll die by the hate,’ Cunningham remarked.

That’s why I literally don’t even care what anyone says about me anymore, Cunningham said.

The backlash stemmed from her opposition to transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, sparking protests outside Fever games. Co-host Drew Hanlen labeled the column an ‘absolute hate piece,’ yet focused on the basketball arguments.

Hanlen defended Cunningham’s performance, pointing to her high scoring average and effective field goal percentage. He argued that many teams would value a top five bench scorer who is also a leading three-point shooter in the league.

Cunningham averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists throughout the season, with a 41.9% success rate from three-point range in 43 appearances.

The column did recognize her value as a team player, though it suggested her effectiveness is not always evident on stat sheets. Cunningham asserted her contributions extend beyond measurable statistics.

Sophie Cunningham remains firm in her position and will continue to focus on her playing style and values amid the ongoing discussions.