Disgraced soccer player and trans activist Megan Rapinoe trashes Sophie Cunningham for taking a photo with Riley Gaines

In a recent episode of her new podcast, former soccer player Megan Rapinoe took aim at Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham for her support of protecting women’s sports from male athletes, criticizing her decision to take a photo with women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines at a recent game. 

Rapinoe recounted Cunningham’s July comments that have sparked wider discussions in the WNBA regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes, with Cunningham saying she wanted to protect young girls in the locker room. 

Rapinoe said Cunningham “was recently photographed with Riley Gaines at an Indiana Fever game. I don't know Sophie, so I can only project what I see about her beliefs based on her actions. And seeing a picture of her with Riley Gaines after the game told me everything I need to know about what's happening.”

“Riley Gaines has made it her life's mission to exclude trans people from public life. She's directly tied to the Heritage Foundation, Rapinoe continued, saying the Heritage Foundation has published a report suggesting “that they want to repeal Title IX.”

“Sophie has claimed both to love trans people and support Title IX, and this is where I think the accountability with having a major platform is extremely important. You can hear it even in the language being used that the root of trans exclusion is to protect young girls from men. 

“To be clear, I would love to have that conversation, and it's much needed in this country, but it frames the conversation as if we're protecting young girls from men being in WNBA locker rooms. Not happening. It villainizes trans girls as if they're somehow magically older than their peers or are men, when in reality they are also young girls. These laws are excluding kids, kids from playing youth sports. 

Rapinoe concluded, “If we want to have a conversation around elite sports, there are effective policies that have been in place for many years that no one noticed because they worked. So, if anybody is taking these talking points as legit or believing they're protecting young girls in sports, I just have to ask: Are you serious?”

Cunningham has received support for her comments, with fans attending games and rallies holding signs thanking her for speaking out. At a Seattle Storm game in late July, a co-owner was suspended after berating two teen girls who had attended, holding up a sign that read, "Thank you, Sophie, for speaking up for girls!"