On Saturday, Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham was on the receiving end of a hard foul caused by Chicago Sky player DiJonai Carrington, who was ejected from the game.

While initially called a common foul, referees, upon review, upgraded the call to a Flagrant 2, leading to Carrington’s ejection.

Carrington later posted on social media, suggesting race was a factor in the call, citing “white privilege.”

The controversy added to Cunningham’s recent media spotlight, as her stance on transgender athletes has been a focal point of contention in previous weeks.

Her support for banning trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports has gained favor from pro-banners and ire from critics.

In stark contrast to Cunningham, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wore a light blue shirt under her jacket that read “Trans kids belong” during a WNBA game against the Fever on Aug. 2. Cunningham’s stance prompted people on both sides of the issue to rally at WNBA games to voice their opinions.

In response to the recent spotlight, Cunningham maintains her soft stance on the subject and believes the rallies against transgender participation in women’s sports will not be a distraction for her team.

“I love basketball. I love inspiring the next generation and doing that in a positive light,” said Cunningham. “And so that doesn’t even cross my mind. Doesn’t cross my teammates’ minds.”

Regarding transgender athletes participating in sports, the American College of Sports Medicine issued an Expert Consensus Statement in 2023. The goal of the consensus statement was to focus on adult male and female athletes and to synthesize scientific knowledge and subject-matter expertise on sex differences in athletic performance.

Some of its key findings included:

  • Biological sex is a determinant of athletic performance: adult males are faster, stronger, and more powerful than females because of fundamental sex differences in anatomy and physiology dictated by sex chromosomes.
  • Adult males are stronger, more powerful, and faster than females of similar age and training status. The sex difference in athletic performance, particularly in events requiring endurance or muscular power, is roughly 10-30% depending on the event.
  • The rate of improvement in women's athletic performance has exceeded that of men's over the last 100 years across a multitude of sports as women have gained access to training, equipment, facilities, and opportunities.

In response to Saturday’s hard foul, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened to charge WNBA players with assault if it were to occur within the state.

“The WNBA knows better than to play games down here in Florida, because I’ll be charging people with assault,” Uthmeier said.

Note there are currently no Florida-based WNBA teams.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert released a memo on Friday addressing the ongoing debate on transgender athletes in women’s basketball, saying:

"[The league will] always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league. Second, our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Lastly, preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league's highest priorities.”