Sophie Cunningham and the Defense of Girls’ Sports

WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has taken a strong stance in defense of women’s sports, emphasizing the importance of Title IX. Her views align with those of Jennifer Sey, founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, who supports the preservation of female sports categories. The debate over transgender participation in women’s sports has been ongoing, polarizing individuals from government officials to everyday citizens.

Despite its prominence, many influential female athletes have not publicly addressed this issue. Some support male inclusion in female sports, some remain silent, and others offer cautious responses. Notably, many sports stars have not been asked about their views on the matter.

Sophie Cunningham’s Position

Sophie Cunningham has emerged as one of the few prominent female athletes to advocate for protecting young girls by maintaining female-only sports categories. Her stance prompts curiosity about the opinions of other female athletes, both past and present.

Simone Biles

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles joined the discussion in June 2025 during a public dispute with Riley Gaines on X. Biles criticized Gaines for comments on a Minnesota high school softball team with a male player, calling for inclusion instead of exclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. After backlash, Biles apologized for personal attacks but maintained her support for inclusion, recognizing the complexity of fairness.

A’Ja Wilson

WNBA MVP A’Ja Wilson has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women’s sports. She often speaks about equality and inclusion without addressing specific eligibility rules in women’s sports. Public records do not indicate she has been asked about her stance.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams, one of the greatest female tennis players, has not explicitly commented on male participation in women’s sports. However, her 2013 remarks on David Letterman’s show highlight the physical differences between male and female athletes. These comments have influenced discussions on safeguarding women’s sports.

Katie Ledecky

Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky has avoided political or cultural issues, including transgender participation in women’s sports. When asked by “The New York Times” about the NCAA Title IX lawsuit related to Lia Thomas, she refrained from taking a position but emphasized open debate and learning from diverse perspectives.

Coco Gauff

Tennis player Coco Gauff supports LGBTQ communities but hasn’t addressed transgender participation in women’s sports. When Riley Gaines urged her to respond, she did not comment.

Caitlin Clark

WNBA star Caitlin Clark has been asked about transgender participation. In a 2024 “TIME” magazine interview, she supported equal rights and respect for transgender individuals but did not directly address eligibility in women’s sports.

Paige Bueckers

WNBA player Paige Bueckers is vocal on racial justice and supports LGBTQ communities but has not discussed transgender participation in women’s sports. She advocates for equal opportunity without commenting on fairness in sports.

Sabrina Ionescu

WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu has not taken a public position on transgender issues in sports, focusing instead on expanding opportunities for female athletes.

Sha’Carri Richardson

Track star Sha’Carri Richardson supports inclusion and respect, yet remains silent on the topic of male athletes in women’s sports. She has not addressed it in interviews or podcasts.

Hilary Knight

Olympic hockey player Hilary Knight supports transgender inclusion. In discussions on international policy changes, she emphasized inclusivity while respecting governing body decisions.

The question remains: Who will join Sophie Cunningham in speaking out? As Cunningham highlights the common-sense nature of this issue, there is hope that more female athletes will advocate for protecting women’s sports.