The debate surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports has never completely disappeared, but it has found its way back into the center of the sports conversation this summer. From the WNBA to professional tennis, athletes and coaches are being asked where they stand on the balance between inclusion and maintaining competitive protections in women’s sports. Coco Gauff became one of the latest stars to weigh in this week, offering a considerably more nuanced response than some of the voices that have dominated the conversation.
But much of the latest conversation can be traced to Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. In a July ESPN profile, Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls” in locker rooms and competition and argued that they shouldn’t have to compete against what she called “biological men.” When asked about the comments again days later, Cunningham didn’t back away, calling her position “common sense” while insisting that disagreement with transgender participation in women’s sports does not mean she hates transgender people. The comments became big enough that demonstrations supporting and opposing Cunningham began appearing outside Fever games.