WNBA Coach Protests Sophie Cunningham By Wearing ‘Trans Kids Belong’ Shirt

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve took a not-so-subtle shot at Sophie Cunningham by wearing a t-shirt declaring “Trans Kids Belong” on Sunday when her team played Cunningham’s Indiana Fever.

The shirt was an obvious dig at Cunningham, who has been both praised and condemned since telling ESPN last month she does not believe biological boys who have transitioned should be allowed to play against girl athletes. Reeve wore the shirt under her sports coat.

The shirt was clearly visible on the ESPN broadcast, and play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco noted she was wearing it “in support of trans kids.” ESPN then played footage of Cunningham and Reeve in what appeared to be a fairly animated conversation before the game.

(Photo Credit: ESPN)

ESPN commentator and WNBA legend Rebecca Lobo suggested viewers listen to the “incredibly thoughtful” comments Reeve made on Saturday, where the coach said it was “problematic” some people believe “transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports.” Reeve continued venting, saying it was “bothersome” there is a “faction of people in our country that are making this a massive issue.”

Cunningham has been at the center of a media firestorm since her much-publicized ESPN profile in July.

Here is the comment that sparked the whole saga:

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” [Cunningham] says. “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.”

She later doubled down on her remarks, following some blowback from players, fans, and pundits.

Plenty of other fans have supported Cunningham, and her Adidas shoes became a must-have item for many of them. One of those fans who went to watch Cunningham play last week was berated by Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton, who called the teen fan and her friend “f*cking insane.” Keaton was suspended over the viral incident.

Reeve’s shirt (Photo Credit: ESPN)

The Cunningham controversy kept rolling into the weekend, with the Fever PR director shutting down a post-game interview on Friday the moment Cunningham’s name was mentioned.

A rally in support of Cunningham took place before the game on Sunday, with attendees like Outkick’s Riley Gaines and former NBC Sports reporter (and current Minnesota Republican governor candidate) Michele Tafoya joining in. The rally — which was in front of the Target Center in Minneapolis — was then met by a counter-protest.

Cunningham linked up with Gaines for a picture after the game.

And if you’re interested in the actual basketball side of things, the Lynx beat the Fever 108-100. Cunningham scored 3 points (1-2 FG, 1-1 FT), grabbed 1 rebound and dished out 2 assists in 23 minutes of action.

Watch Reeve’s comments above via Fox News.

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