US soccer legend Megan Rapinoe accused Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham of villainizing trans girls during a podcast discussion about transgender participation in sports. Cunningham sparked debate within the WNBA after claiming she wants to protect young girls from biological men.
The comments divided commentators, fans, and peers across the league. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt during a recent game against Indiana, while Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams said she would happily welcome a trans player to her team.
Rapinoe, who previously clashed publicly with President Trump, joined the criticism of Cunningham on her podcast, "Why Are You Like This?" She questioned anyone believing Cunningham is protecting young girls in sports.
"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?'" Rapinoe said.
Photo with activist sparks criticism
Rapinoe took particular issue with Cunningham posing for a photo after a game with political activist Riley Gaines, one of the most prominent critics of transgender athletes in sports.
"I don't know Sophie so I can only project what I see about her beliefs based on her actions," Rapinoe said. "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."
Rapinoe claimed Gaines is directly tied to the Heritage Foundation, which describes itself as a research and educational institution whose mission is to build and promote conservative public policies. She noted that the organization published a report suggesting a repeal of Title IX, which bans sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance to ensure equal sporting opportunities for female athletes.
"[They] have now published a report that suggests that they want to repeal Title IX," Rapinoe said. "The very piece of legislation that allowed athletes like Sophie and myself to compete in sports."
Debate over Title IX and trans inclusion
Cunningham recently defended her stance by referencing Title IX. "When it comes just to protecting young girls in sport and women in sport, I feel very strongly about that," Cunningham said. "That's why you have Title IX... if Title IX women's sports weren't protected, then you wouldn't hear about any type of women in sport… But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community."
Rapinoe took issue with Cunningham claiming both to love trans people and support Title IX, emphasizing that having a major platform requires accountability.
"You can hear it, even in the language being used, that the root of trans exclusion is to protect young girls from men," Rapinoe said. "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."
Rapinoe argued that such statements misrepresent trans athletes. "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," Rapinoe said. "These laws are excluding kids from playing youth sports. 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."
