Sports

Sophie Cunningham Elbowed In Face, Called For Foul While Being Heavily Booed In Minnesota

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Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Sophie Cunningham called for a foul vs. the Minnesota Lynx.


The Indiana Fever travelled to Minnesota on Sunday for a matchup vs. the Lynx. The home crowd let Sophie Cunningham hear it each time she touched the ball.

One of the game’s loudest moments came in the second quarter of action following a play involving the Fever guard. Cunningham was called for a foul after taking an elbow to the face.

The fan response has become typical due to comments made on transgender athletes. Cunningham does not believe biological men should compete in women’s sports. It’s sparked a league-wide controversy that’s taken attention away from the games themselves.

Sophie Cunningham has divided the WNBA.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. 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.”

-Sophie Cunningham

Those comments were made in an ESPN profile published earlier this season. Her opinion has split players, coaches, and fanbases.

Stephen A. Smith agreed with Cunningham, whose popularity continues to explode. Her sneakers sold out in just one hour. She added hundreds of thousands of followers on social media over the last few weeks.

Not everyone is in her corner.

During a game vs. the Seattle Storm, things came to a boiling point. Fans on both sides of the aisle made their arguments. A small, uneventful protest was held prior to tip off.

During that contest, Cunningham was the center of attention. The scene got ugly when minority owner Celeste Keaton berated a pair of young fans for voicing an opinion that differed from her own.

The franchise punished Keaton in the form of a fine and suspension. It has done little to quiet the noise.

Cunningham was booed mercilessly in a trip to Portland. She responded with a 13-point, three-assist night off the bench in an Indiana win.

The negative response continued into Sunday’s matchup vs. Minnesota.

Lynx fans, coach react to Cunningham’s comments.

Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve wore a “Trans Kids Belong” t-shirt on the sidelines. Fans booed Sophie Cunningham each time she touched the basketball.

During the second quarter of action, the crowd erupted to a foul call against the Fever guard. Cunningham was elbowed in the face on the play.

The broadcast crew disagreed with the ruling, which stood after a brief review. Fans cheered loudly after WNBA officials confirmed the defensive foul.

Cunningham insists her comments will not become a distraction. With that said, the storyline continues to follow the Fever in each new city.

The most recent postgame press conference was cut short after a question on Cunningham’s remarks. The backlash continues to overshadow the on-court product.

That was again the case in Minnesota with fans gathering for protest prior to tipoff. It does not appear the noise will quiet any time soon.