Stephen A. Smith supports Sophie Cunningham's views on transgender athletes
Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jul 23, 2026, 8:00 PM
Last updated Jul 23, 2026
Stephen A. Smith defended Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham regarding her comments on transgender athletes. Cunningham expressed a desire to protect women's sports, stating it is unfair for biological men to compete against women. During his SiriusXM show, Smith reiterated that while he supports the LGBTQ+ community, there needs to be awareness of fairness in sports. Cunningham's remarks have drawn both support and controversy, highlighting an ongoing debate in women's athletics. Smith emphasized the need for a separate league for transgender athletes, indicating a complex discussion around inclusivity and fairness in sports.
- •Sophie Cunningham advocates for protecting young girls in sports.
- •Smith questioned the fairness of biological men competing in women's leagues.
- •Cunningham has reiterated her stance following media attention.
- •Smith calls for separate leagues for transgender athletes.
- •The discussion reflects broader societal debates over gender and sports.
- 12:50 AMYahoo Sports — ‘What If an NBA Player Decided to Transition?’ – Stephen A. Smith Draws Bold Comparison After Sophie Cunningham’s Take Against Trans Athletes
- 11:41 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Can’t Applaud Her Enough’ – Stephen A. Smith Publicly Supports Sophie Cunningham’s Controversial Take Against Trans Athletes
- 8:01 PMYahoo Sports — Stephen A. Smith calls for trans athletes to ‘get a sport’ in response to Sophie Cunningham
- 8:00 PMYahoo Sports — Stephen A. Smith defends Sophie Cunningham on transgender athletes: ‘Clearly unfair to women’
"Indiana Fever reserve guard Sophie Cunningham unknowingly sparked a controversy this week when she made sharp comments about trans girls competing in sports with other girls. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” Cunningham, who is averaging 9.3 points this season, told ESPN.…
"Stephen A. Smith is defending Sophie Cunningham by making it clear he doesn’t want to see NBA players transition to play in the WNBA, which to be clear, is not something the transgender community has ever fought for. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham garnered attention this week for comments made in an article published by…
"On Monday, Sophie Cunningham’s comments about transgender athletes shook social media. The Indiana Fever star shared her firm stance about protecting “young girls” from competing against “biological men.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 24, 2026, 12:50 AM‘What If an NBA Player Decided to Transition?’ – Stephen A. Smith Draws Bold Comparison After Sophie Cunningham’s Take Against Trans Athletes
On Monday, Sophie Cunningham’s comments about transgender athletes shook social media. The Indiana Fever star shared her firm stance about protecting “young girls” from competing against “biological men.
- Yahoo SportsJul 23, 2026, 11:41 PM‘Can’t Applaud Her Enough’ – Stephen A. Smith Publicly Supports Sophie Cunningham’s Controversial Take Against Trans Athletes
Sophie Cunningham is a main topic of conversation in the WNBA and overall sports world this week. This comes after comments made in a wide-ranging interview published by ESPN.
- Yahoo SportsJul 23, 2026, 8:01 PMStephen A. Smith calls for trans athletes to ‘get a sport’ in response to Sophie Cunningham
Indiana Fever reserve guard Sophie Cunningham unknowingly sparked a controversy this week when she made sharp comments about trans girls competing in sports with other girls. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,'” Cunningham, who is averaging 9.3 points this season, told ESPN.…
- Yahoo SportsJul 23, 2026, 8:00 PMStephen A. Smith defends Sophie Cunningham on transgender athletes: ‘Clearly unfair to women’
Stephen A. Smith is defending Sophie Cunningham by making it clear he doesn’t want to see NBA players transition to play in the WNBA, which to be clear, is not something the transgender community has ever fought for. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham garnered attention this week for comments made in an article published by…
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