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Sophie Cunningham is upset the WNBA is being 'overshadowed' by the drama she caused
Sophie Cunningham seems to be at odds with herself. The Indiana Fever star says she’s upset that the controversy her comments about transgender athletes sparked is overshadowing the WNBA’s product, while also continuing to perpetuate and lean into the discourse.
Speaking on USA Network‘s WNBA coverage with studio host Elle Duncan on Wednesday night, Sophie Cunningham continued to address her comments about transgender athletes that have sparked a renewed culture war debate.
Sophie Cunningham says she “hates” that the WNBA’s basketball is being “overshadowed” by the controversy that she started
According to Cunningham, she “just hates” how the basketball in the WNBA is being “overshadowed” by the controversy, and that her biggest thing is “love and respect.”
Sophie Cunningham said she’s upset that the controversy she sparked is ‘overshadowing’ the WNBA’s ‘elite’ basketball
“I know that people are not always going to align and agree. I totally understand that. But I think the most important thing is of having that respect, having that love, and pursuing peace in these conversations, in these debates, because I think that is healthy,” Cunningham said on USA Network’s WNBA pregame coverage.
“Now, with that being said, I just hate how the W, the basketball of it all, is just getting overshadowed. I think that you were seeing teams playing at the highest level they’ve ever played at. You see, uh, great basketball, the most elite level basketball this league has ever seen,” she continued.
“And it just makes me sad that all this kind of drama in, um, on things that truly don’t matter are getting overshadowed, that the basketball is getting overshadowed. And so my biggest thing is love and respect. I think there’s room for absolutely everybody. We don’t always have to agree, but that respect and love definitely has to be there.”
“I know that people are not always going to align and agree … but I think the most important thing is having that respect, having that love, and pursuing peace in these conversations.”
USA Network contributor Sophie Cunningham addresses the fallout from her stance on trans… pic.twitter.com/qx1bl7lG6S
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 5, 2026
Cunningham’s latest comments are undeniably ironic: she’s upset the basketball is being overshadowed by a controversy she initiated, but has declined to de-escalate it.