ESPN praises WNBA coach Cheryl Reeve for supporting male athletes in female sports

An announcer was heard saying, “We see Cheryl Reeve wearing a shirt today in support of trans kids. ‘Trans kids belong’ [is] on the shirt. This in the aftermath of Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments. We actually saw Cheryl and Sophie at center court pre-game. And yesterday, Cheryl Reeve spent a lot of time talking at length with the media about this topic.” Another announcer jumped in, encouraging viewers to read Reeve’s comments.

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On Saturday, Reeve told reporters on the topic of trans-identified males competing in women’s sports, “I come from a space of inclusion. The narrative that I think is problematic is to suggest that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women's sports. This is what's bothersome. There is a faction of people in our country that are making this a massive issue.”

Reeve said that she spoke with Cunningham before the game, saying, “I think both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about wanting to, more than anything, educate, and there are some things that, you know, we have in common, and maybe some things we differ on, just like any issues.”

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Reeve said she thought that the topic required “nuance,” especially when it came to competitive sports beyond puberty. She said, “That's where I say common-sense people get together and you find common ground. To find a way to be inclusive. The answer isn't 'no.’”

Reeve’s shirt received backlash on social media. One user wrote, “The coach of the other team is wearing this shirt. Start the Barstool Women’s Basketball League. Get Sophie Cunningham and Caitlyn Clark. In 3 years you’d outperform the WNBA.”

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Amuse wrote, “TRANS TERROR: ESPN has signed onto the trans cult supporting the transing of American kids.”

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Like other games that have taken place recently with the Indiana Fever team, supporters gathered outside the building holding signs in support of Cunningham. Signs included “Love is truth” and Thank you Sophie.” Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines also attended the game, holding up a sign that read “Sophie, thank you — a girl mom.”

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Reeve spoke on the planned rally ahead of the game, telling reporters, “Well, I don't think we should feel like our safe space is being threatened. That's what I enjoy about the WNBA. I think we have to continue to safeguard that. I don't think these demonstrators are not being peaceful. Not that I've seen. I haven't seen all of it. I haven't heard everything that's happening. But everyone has a right to peacefully assemble, right? Whether you agree with them or not, it doesn't matter.”

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Speaking after the game, in which Fever lost 108-100, Caitlin Clark was asked about the topic of trans-identified males competing in women’s sports. She said, “I think, for us, it’s not really a discussion we really have in our locker room. I think it’s for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That’s what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn’t do that tonight.”

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White was also asked about the topic, with the coach responding, “I don’t know that I would say I’m educated enough from a scientific standpoint” on male athletes competing in women’s sports, adding, “I don’t ever believe that exclusion is the answer.”

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