Amid tension, Cunningham says she wants to 'get back to basketball'

Key Points:

• Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham expressed a desire to shift focus back to basketball after her comments on transgender athletes sparked national debate, protests, and social media attention reaching the White House.
• Cunningham described the controversy as a distraction from the high level of play in the WNBA, highlighting Indiana's strong recent performance and league-leading offensive stats.
• Her July comments on protecting women's sports, interpreted by some as anti-transgender, led to mixed reactions including protests at games and public support for more inclusive transgender policies from other WNBA coaches.
• Cunningham emphasized that she does not hate transgender individuals and wants to protect young girls in sports, while embracing the competitive atmosphere including boos from some fans.
• The WNBA's 2026 collective bargaining agreement restricts eligibility to "only players who are women" but lacks a clear definition or public policy on transgender athlete participation, with no league clarification provided.