USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is not happy with Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.
Over the weekend, Reeve wore a “trans kids belong” shirt during her team’s game against the Indiana Fever to protest Sophie Cunningham’s comments about excluding trans athletes from women’s sports.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt during their game against the Indiana Fever and Sophie Cunningham. pic.twitter.com/NcrulHmfGI
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 2, 2026
Reeve said she wore the shirt to “educate” fans on the issue.
“Both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about wanting to, more than anything, educate,” Reeve said. “There are some things that we have in common, and maybe some things you differ on, just like any issues. I think it’s how you handle things. It was nice to be in person, for sure.”
On Tuesday on his Sirius XM show, Smith went scorched Earth on Reeve over the shirt.
“You are Cheryl Reeve, Head Coach of the Minnesota Lynx. That is an IRRESPONSIBLE thing to do. You are coach for a female basketball team. Do you not think that the females are being screwed over if they have to compete against an individual who’s born as a male. What are you talking about??… No regard for the WNBA, the sponsors who may be put off by that… HOW is that ok??”
Stephen smith goes a off on 😡Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve for her trans shirt, pic.twitter.com/HWM3bT89g5
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) August 4, 2026
Smith doubled down on his comments on social media.
I’m not backing down from this one.
You can support people’s rights AND believe biological men shouldn’t compete in women’s sports. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.
My issue isn’t hate. It’s protecting women, protecting girls, and asking why a WNBA coach chose to…
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) August 4, 2026