Columnist resigns over censorship after Sophie Cunningham's comments
5 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 12:16 PM
Last updated Aug 21, 2026
Matt Calkins announced his resignation from The Seattle Times due to censorship surrounding a column on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's remarks about transgender athletes. Calkins had faced multiple instances of his columns being rejected, including one focusing on female student athletes opposing competition against biological males. He expressed his belief that avoiding controversial topics undermined a columnist's role in fostering discussion. Calkins plans to continue writing on his Substack.
- •Calkins resigned on August 20, 2026.
- •His resignation followed censorship of a column about transgender athletes.
- •Calkins had previous columns spiked on various controversial topics.
- •He encountered teenage protesters at a WNBA game who supported Cunningham's views.
- •Calkins intends to continue writing on his Substack.
- 12:16 PMYahoo Sports — Sophie Cunningham controversy leads longtime columnist to leave Seattle Times
- 4:40 AMYahoo Sports — Sophie Cunningham Supporter Quits Job Amid WNBA/Transgender Controversy
- 12:30 AMYahoo Sports — Seattle Times writer offered new job hours after quitting over spiked Sophie Cunningham story
- 9:33 PMAwful Announcing — Seattle Times columnist resigns after paper scrapped Sophie Cunningham piece - Awful Announcing
- 9:30 PMYahoo Sports — Seattle Times columnist resigns after paper scrapped Sophie Cunningham piece
- 8:36 PMYahoo Sports — ‘I’m done holding back’: Columnist quits major newspaper over Sophie Cunningham piece
"Longtime sports columnist Matt Calkins opted to resign from The Seattle Times after they allegedly declined to publish his story in support of Sophie Cunningham and her stance on transgender athletes. Calkins announced his exit on social media Thursday, revealing the resignation after 11 years with The Seattle Times was entirely his decision. But after…
"The conversation stemming from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes added another plot point on Thursday, with a prominent sports columnist saying he resigned due to censorship over the topic. Matt Calkins, who penned columns for The Seattle Times for more than a decade, announced on X this afternoon that he was…
"Matt Calkins has resigned from The Seattle Times after the newspaper allegedly declined to publish his column supporting Sophie Cunningham. The post Sophie Cunningham Supporter Quits Job Amid WNBA/Transgender Controversy appeared first on HEAVY.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 21, 2026, 12:16 PMSophie Cunningham controversy leads longtime columnist to leave Seattle Times
A longtime Seattle Times columnist says an unpublished story connected to Sophie Cunningham’s controversial stance prompted his resignation.
- Yahoo SportsAug 21, 2026, 4:40 AMSophie Cunningham Supporter Quits Job Amid WNBA/Transgender Controversy
Matt Calkins has resigned from The Seattle Times after the newspaper allegedly declined to publish his column supporting Sophie Cunningham. The post Sophie Cunningham Supporter Quits Job Amid WNBA/Transgender Controversy appeared first on HEAVY.
- Yahoo SportsAug 21, 2026, 12:30 AMSeattle Times writer offered new job hours after quitting over spiked Sophie Cunningham story
Hours after resigning from the Seattle Times, writer Matt Calkins was publicly extended a job offer. The WNBA has turned into more of a ground for political and cultural debates.
- Awful AnnouncingAug 20, 2026, 9:33 PMSeattle Times columnist resigns after paper scrapped Sophie Cunningham piece - Awful Announcing
Sports columnist Matt Calkins resigned from the Seattle Times after they spiked a story on Sophie Cunningham and transgender athletes.
- Yahoo SportsAug 20, 2026, 9:30 PMSeattle Times columnist resigns after paper scrapped Sophie Cunningham piece
Longtime sports columnist Matt Calkins opted to resign from The Seattle Times after they allegedly declined to publish his story in support of Sophie Cunningham and her stance on transgender athletes. Calkins announced his exit on social media Thursday, revealing the resignation after 11 years with The Seattle Times was entirely his decision. But after…
- Yahoo SportsAug 20, 2026, 8:36 PM‘I’m done holding back’: Columnist quits major newspaper over Sophie Cunningham piece
The conversation stemming from Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes added another plot point on Thursday, with a prominent sports columnist saying he resigned due to censorship over the topic. Matt Calkins, who penned columns for The Seattle Times for more than a decade, announced on X this afternoon that he was…
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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