Sophie Cunningham loyalists demonstrated in Portland on Friday to show support for the Indiana Fever forward at the center of the WNBA’s controversy over trans athletes in women’s sports.
Judging by videos posted on a ‘Women Are Real’ X page, Friday’s protest did not appear to draw a large crowd outside Moda Center ahead of the Fever-Fire tip-off. Several individuals held signs in support of Cunningham, who recently made news by voicing her opposition to transgender athletes in women’s sports. Meanwhile, one man is seen making an ‘X’ with his arms.
Just days earlier, the same organizers made national news in Seattle when the owner of the WNBA’s Storm told two young Cunningham supporters they were ‘f***ing insane’ for demonstrating courtside during Indiana’s win. As a result, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been banned from her team’s next five home games by the WNBA.
The Daily Mail revealed earlier Friday that two further protests were planned, starting with the Fever-Fire game in Portland.
‘We’re a group of middle aged women and girls with baskets of cookies, balloons, bubbles, and welcome signs,’ read a post from organizer Amy Sousa. ‘We’re literally a cheer squad!’
Sousa is pictured in a subsequent post wearing XX-XY Athletics gear, which is a brand aimed at promoting opposition to transgender athletes in women’s sports.
A man wearing XX-XY Athletics gear makes an ‘X’ with his arms outside a WNBA game
Sophie Cunningham fans hold up signs in support of the Indiana Fever forward in Portland
Sophie Cunningham arrives to the arena before the game against the Portland Fire
The Daily Mail has sought comment from Fire spokespeople on the protests.
On Sunday, Indiana travels to Minnesota to face the Lynx, where another demonstration has been slated ahead of the 1pm EST tip-off.
The planned rallies come just days after the issue exploded in Seattle, when a calm protest outside the arena was followed by a courtside meltdown from a Storm co-owner which led to her being suspended for five games by the team.
After two young girls brought in signs pledging their support for Cunningham and the ‘protect women’s sports’ movement, Celeste Keaton allowed her temper to boil over when she confronted them and allegedly told them they were ‘f***ing insane.’
The Storm have since apologized for the incident.
In addition to Keaton, several fans were also recorded berating the young Cunningham supporters.
‘Garbage! Take the trash out!’ one man is heard yelling while gesturing to the girls and reporter Brandi Kruse, who is credited for organizing the protest in Seattle.
Several voices can be heard calling for security to have the man taken away in the video shared by Fox News. But despite the pleas for help, the confrontation continued.
‘Some of the fans were relentlessly booing at them,’ Kruse told Fox News Digital. ‘And I kind of turned around and said, “Look, they’re just teenage girls.”‘
Another viral video purportedly shows an angry Storm supporter spitting in a Fever fan’s direction after Indiana’s 105-95 win, but that has not been corroborated.
Several WNBA fans were recorded berating the young Sophie Cunningham supporters who attended Tuesday’s game to voice their opposition to trans athletes in female sports
Voices can be heard calling for security to have the man taken away in the video shared by Fox News . But despite the pleas for help, the confrontation continued in Seattle
Sunday’s protest in Minneapolis, meanwhile, is being led by XX-XY Athletics founder and former Team USA gymnastics champion Jennifer Sey.
Sey, who previously wrote for the Daily Mail to slam the WNBA’s mean girl plot to topple Caitlin Clark, has been a long-time voice in the ‘save women’s sports’ movement.
The trans issue was catapulted into the spotlight by Cunningham recently, when she spoke to ESPN, insisting women ‘shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’
The two girls sitting courtside in support of Cunningham on Tuesday wore t-shirts made by XX-XY, and the WNBA star herself took to X to slam the Storm co-owner.
‘I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY,’ she wrote. ‘Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table!
‘You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon. Yay for gifts.
‘Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.’
