The WNBA’s ongoing divide over transgender participation in sports widened this week after Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson appeared to deliver a pointed response to Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
Cunningham, one of Indiana’s most prominent players, recently drew heavy criticism after saying girls should be “protected” from competing against biological men, remarks that have fueled debate across the league and beyond.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s Fever-Storm matchup at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Dolson arrived wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the message: “trans rights are human rights.”
Images of Dolson’s shirt were shared on the Storm’s official X and Instagram accounts, quickly drawing a strong response from supporters and critics on both sides of the issue.
Many fans praised Dolson and the Storm for taking a public stand, while others condemned the message, including one commenter who wrote: “Gross.”
Another critic responded: “Then you should have no problems playing against biological men.”
Stefanie Dolson wore a T-shirt reading “trans rights are human rights” on Tuesday night
Sophie Cunningham has faced a strong backlash over her comments about “protecting” girls
In the crowd, two young girls held signs thanking Cunningham for ‘speaking up for girls’
Before the WNBA game on Tuesday night, anti-trans protestors also held a rally outside the arena in support of Cunningham, whose comments are continuing to make headlines around the world.
The group held up signs which read ‘Thank you Sophie’ and ‘Protect Female Sports’, chanting in support of Cunningham and her now-viral comments.
Inside the arena, meanwhile, the division continued with both pro and anti-Cunningham signs seen on the ESPN broadcast.
While one fan held up a ‘no hate in these United States’ rainbow banner, another fan’s sign read: ‘Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls’.
Reports from outside the arena claimed arguments took place between pro and anti-trans protestors, but it is understood there was no physical violence.
Cunningham initially sparked the widespread reaction when she underlined her support for the movement aiming to protect women’s sports while talking with ESPN, before later doubling down on Instagram.
In her initials comments, she said: ‘I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, “I never once said that”.
‘I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’
The debate even got as far as the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters last week: ‘Men should not be playing in women’s sports. It’s completely ludicrous that anyone could support that.
‘It’s even more ludicrous that you do have Sophie Cunningham, a female athlete herself, very accomplished in her own right, coming forth and speaking that truth that men should(n’t) play in women’s sports.
Outside the arena, anti-trans protestors gathered in support of the Indiana Fever superstar
It was reported that arguments broke out between fans on each side of the trans debate
‘The backlash she is receiving from Democrats and left-wing figures across the country is astonishing. They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue, which again, is an 80/20 issue. It’s common sense.’
Cunningham herself had appeared to double down on her views with a not-so-subtle Instagram post last Thursday afternoon.
Taking to the social media platform, the WNBA star shared pictures of her arriving before one of the Fever’s recent games, with the caption: ‘I said what I said.’
She also had the location tagged as ‘Women’s Sports’, before later changing it.
Cunningham, who is a close friend to teammate Caitlin Clark, had already defended her comments before her team’s Wednesday night game against Connecticut Sun.
She told reporters: ‘There’s going to be some negative comments but there’s also a lot of positive comments too. It is what it is.
‘We’re all human, I really don’t care what other people have to say. I said what I said, I think it’s common sense and I think I will always believe in that. I stand on what I said.’
Cunningham smiles at the camera as she arrives in Seattle for the WNBA game on Tuesday
Cunningham was asked if her words signal a move to become more political but she denies having any aspirations to remain outspoken on any other major issues.
‘I am not a very political person but I have beliefs, I have morals and I will always be true to who I am,’ Cunningham said.
‘I think people are going to take it how they want to take it. When it comes to protecting young girls and women in sports, I feel very strongly about that.’
The topic has become particularly politicized since President Donald Trump returned for a second term in office. He issued an executive order to block trans athletes participating in girls or women’s sports and the Supreme Court recently upheld state bans on trans athletes.
Asked if her own comments could now ‘come back’ on the trans community, Cunningham said: ‘I extend love, I don’t dislike anyone.
‘I think there’s room for everyone here and there’s room to love everyone. I truly think when you get people in the same room and you have conversations, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people.
‘I’m there to love but I am also there to love biological women and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. Like I said, I am going to stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs for that.
Cunningham celebrates a three-pointer against the Storm with teammate Monique Billings
‘But I’ve never said I hated the trans community. I think there is space for everyone.’
Back in 2022, Cunningham faced heavy backlash after sharing a post from CBS Sports host Josh Pate regarding the controversy surrounding former Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and their inclusion on the women’s team.
Pate’s post read: ‘Female collegiate athletes deserve so much better than this’.
Cunningham was forced to release a statement over the matter, at the time, saying that she ‘stands’ with athletes, but calling for ‘fair’ competition in events.
