Now Reading: WNBA Transgender Athletes Controversy: Cheryl Reeve, Natalie Nakase Respond to Sophie Cunningham Comments With Calls For Inclusivity
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WNBA Transgender Athletes Controversy: Cheryl Reeve, Natalie Nakase Respond to Sophie Cunningham Comments With Calls For Inclusivity
WNBA Transgender Athletes Controversy: Cheryl Reeve, Natalie Nakase Respond to Sophie Cunningham Comments With Calls For Inclusivity
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Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has responded to the renewed debate over transgender participation in women’s sports, reaffirming her support for transgender athletes. The issue resurfaced after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham spoke about wanting to “protect young girls” from what she described as “biological men” competing in women’s sports.
Reeve had previously made her position clear by wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt during a game involving Cunningham’s Fever. With protests planned outside San Francisco’s Chase Center ahead of the Lynx’s matchup with the Golden State Valkyries, Reeve was again asked about the demonstrations and reiterated her support for transgender athletes and children.
Cheryl Reeve Addresses Protests Ahead of Lynx vs Valkyries Clash
The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports has returned to the WNBA spotlight ahead of the Minnesota Lynx’s matchup with the Golden State Valkyries. With another rally planned outside the Chase Center following Sophie Cunningham’s comments on protecting women’s sports, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was asked about the demonstrations and again made her position clear. “I don’t want to give them any more oxygen than they deserve,” she said, per reporter Conrado Pascual on X.
Reeve reiterated her belief that transgender children should be welcomed in sports, while urging people to learn more about the issue instead of allowing it to become a tool for division. “As I’ve said this before, transgender kids belong, and I think as we’re seeing sort of politically in this country, they found a talking point that people are buying into. And the only thing I ask is that people educate themselves further on these issues and what we’re capable of doing when we work on something together, and that something is not used as simply rhetoric to marginalize a community that does not deserve marginalization.”
Cunningham’s earlier comments have sparked roughly seven rallies in her support, including demonstrations around WNBA games involving Indiana and Minnesota. A similar protest was also held in Canada when the Fever faced the Toronto Tempo, with Canadian powerlifter April Hutchinson leading the event. Reeve had already expressed her stance before the August 2 meeting with Indiana, saying, “We need to protect trans kids,” and adding, “To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports.”
Natalie Nakase Calls for Love and Inclusivity Amid Trans Athlete Debate
Following Cheryl Reeve’s comments on August 19, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was also asked about the rally surrounding the ongoing debate. Rather than focusing on the controversy, Nakase urged people to approach the issue with empathy and compassion. “In the world and in sports right now, there’s too much hate that’s going on,” she said in a video shared on X by reporter Jackson Thompson.
Nakase encouraged people to respond with kindness and continue creating a supportive environment within sports. “I would highly suggest people continue to lead with love. I love to lead with love. I don’t think the word love has been expressed enough. For me, I want to continue to share that and also just continue to support because I know when we, you know, our love on each other, like we bring the best out of each other.”
Her latest comments reflect the position she shared earlier in August when asked about rallies supporting Sophie Cunningham before Golden State’s game against Toronto. “I think, just in terms of how I’m seeing it is, if I can answer, for me sports is about belonging. It’s about inclusivity. It’s about allowing everyone to be their authentic self,” Nakase said. “I’m all about women, little girls deserving to play, and that includes trans women. So I’m all about inclusivity.” With the issue continuing to spark discussion across the WNBA, more players and coaches could weigh in as the debate continues.
