'I said what I said': WNBA star Sophie Cunningham doubles down on support of women's rights in competition

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is standing by her recent comments in support of protecting women and girls’ sports, despite other WNBA players saying that transgender players in the league "caused zero problems."

Speaking with reporters before her team’s game against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, Cunningham said, "I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense, and I think I always believe that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. And so I stand on what I said, and I always believe that."

Cunningham said she is "not a very political person," but that she has beliefs and morals that "I’ll always stand on." She added, "I think people are going to take it how they want to take it."

She said she feels "very strongly" about protecting young girls and women in sports. "That’s why you have Title IX. That’s why you have some of the greats in women’s sports. If Title IX and women’s sports weren’t protected, then you wouldn’t hear about any type of women in sport. And so, I think in the future, it’s just really important to protect."

When asked about transgender individuals who may have taken issue with her comments, Cunningham said, "I extend love, and I don’t dislike anyone. Like, I think there’s room for absolutely everyone here, and i think there’s room to love everyone. And 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. And so I'm there to love, but I'm also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And like I said, I'm going to stand true to that."

Cunningham’s Wednesday night comments follow an interview with ESPN in Tuesday, in which she said she "got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans." She said, "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."

In the wake of her comments, Cunningham has received support across social media. High school athlete Briley Lechner said Cunningham’s comments "meant more than she’ll ever know. When a WNBA star says it, maybe people finally listen."

Cunningham has also received backlash, with fellow WNBA player Brianna Turner writing, "A tiny minority of the population identifies as trans, yet they are always a trending topic unfortunately. I’m in my 8th season as a WNBA player. To date there’s been one out trans player in the league. They caused zero problems."