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Samantha Ponder shares her experience after backlash on trans athletes stance

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 13, 2026, 4:39 PM

Last updated Aug 13, 2026

Samantha Ponder shares her experience after backlash on trans athletes stance

Summary

Samantha Ponder recounted her experience of being targeted after voicing her opinion against the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. She revealed that men from the New York Post came to her home, filming her and her daughter, after she tweeted about fairness in sports. The discussion was intensified by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's earlier comments, which sparked widespread debate and support rallies for Cunningham. The WNBA's task force is addressing the topic, with no final decisions reported yet regarding eligibility matters.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Samantha Ponder faced harassment after her stance on trans athletes.
•Comments by Sophie Cunningham have ignited ongoing discussions in the WNBA.
•The WNBA has formed a task force to address relevant issues.
•No final decisions on athlete eligibility have been made yet.

Latest Updates

4:39 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Men showed up at my house’: Samantha Ponder was ‘silenced’ after speaking against trans athletes participating in women’s sports

What they're saying

"
The discourse surrounding the WNBA has been dominated by the topic of the fairness of transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. The conversation was, in large part, sparked by comments Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham made in a July profile in ESPN. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m…
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Indiana Fever WNBA Basketball