Katie Nolan, a former ESPN personality, said Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham either lacks “critical-thinking skills” or has chosen not to use them, in remarks made this week on Nolan’s SiriusXM podcast, Casuals.
Nolan, who won a Sports Emmy Award in 2016, took aim at Cunningham’s vocal opposition to transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that Cunningham has accepted a simplified version of the debate without questioning its framing.
“Nobody is saying we should get rid of, for example, the WNBA and the NBA, and everybody should just compete together,” Nolan said. “Nobody’s saying that. And so, the people that are packaging it as that are doing so on purpose. And when you are consuming it and going, ‘How could anyone disagree with this statement?’ You never consider that it’s because the statement itself does not reflect the actual issue that we’re discussing.”
Nolan argued the issue has turned political rather than remaining a straightforward matter of fairness, and that Cunningham was spreading a message crafted by people with a specific agenda.
“You’re taking the message that’s being given to you by people who are highly invested in this dividing stuff, and you’re helping them sell it by not questioning it at all,” Nolan said. “Which is extra crazy given the fact that you’re surrounded by people you could talk to about this issue to better understand it.”
Cunningham has become a prominent voice against transgender inclusion in women’s sports since telling ESPN she opposes it, a position she says has nothing to do with political affiliation.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” Cunningham told ESPN. “And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Nolan rejected that framing and accused Cunningham of hypocrisy for recently appearing as a UFC ring girl at Conor McGregor’s comeback fight. McGregor was found civilly liable for sexual assault in Ireland, and UFC president Dana White was caught on camera slapping his wife. White has publicly apologized; McGregor denied the sexual assault claim before a Dublin court.
“You couldn’t catch me dead at that fight,” said Nolan, who described herself as a long-time UFC fan. “F*** Conor McGregor, respectfully.”
Nolan then drew a direct line between Cunningham’s stated concern for protecting girls and her decision to appear at the event.
“And you [follow up] by saying that it’s really important for you to protect little girls from some theoretical transgender person who might take advantage of [them],” Nolan said. “F*** so many things would have to happen for the harm you’re claiming to be worried about to actually be carried out. Meanwhile men come into women’s sports in various positions of authority … and they take advantage of women all the time. And where were you, Sophie, on any of that?”
The controversy has played out on the court as well. During the Fever’s road win over Portland on Friday, Cunningham was booed throughout the game. After draining a three-pointer, she appeared to form an “L” with her fingers toward the crowd. She later denied calling anyone a loser but acknowledged she did “talk s***” with the crowd, and posted a follow-up video of herself with a finger to her lips, appearing to shush the Portland fans.
Before tip-off, Cunningham dismissed suggestions that she had become a distraction for the team.
“I think at the end of the day, I come in and I do my job,” she said. “I’m here to play basketball, but I’m also here to be me, and I’m not gonna like shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don’t agree with that.”
Fever coach Stephanie White offered a contrasting view when asked about transgender athletes in women’s sports before tip-off.
“I wouldn’t say I’m educated enough from a scientific standpoint, but I don’t ever believe that exclusion is an answer,” White told reporters.
Outside Moda Center, a small group of demonstrators held signs supporting Cunningham. She said she has no ties to the group but supports their right to speak.
The same organizers had made national news days earlier in Seattle, where Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was caught on video calling two young Cunningham supporters “f***ing insane” for demonstrating courtside. The WNBA subsequently banned Keaton from her team’s next five home games.
