Sophie Cunningham Reveals What She Discussed with Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve as Fever Star’s Anti-Trans Controversy Rages

Natasha DyeWed, August 5, 2026 at 6:15 PM UTC

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Sophie Cunningham; Cheryl ReeveCredit: Soobum Im/Getty; David Sherman/NBAE via Getty -

Sophie Cunningham said she and Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve left their conversation about trans athletes in women’s sports with “love and respect”

Cunningham and Reeve were seen in an animated talk ahead of the Fever-Lynx game on Sunday, Aug. 2

“She had stories about her point of view and I had stories about my point of view. We left with love and respect and I think that’s what it’s all about,” Cunningham said

Sophie Cunningham says she and Cheryl Reeve left their conversation with “love and respect” after sharing conflicting views on trans athletes in sports.

Cunningham, 29, spoke to reporters during practice with the Indiana Fever on Wednesday. Aug. 5, where she was asked about a conversation she was seen having with Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve — who proudly wore a shirt in support of trans children after Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls” when asked about the topic.

Reeve, 59, and Cunningham were seen speaking one-on-one ahead of the Fever-Lynx game on Sunday, leading to speculation that they were discussing their opposing views. Cunningham told reporters on Wednesday that she and Reeve exchanged “stories” about their viewpoints.

Sophie Cunningham for the Indiana FeverCredit: Justin Casterline/Getty

“She just came up, and I respect her for coming up in person,” Cunningham said, as seen in a video shared by Tony East.

She continued, “A lot of people hide behind screens and love that type of thing. She had stories about her point of view and I had stories about my point of view. We left with love and respect and I think that’s what it’s all about.”

Cunningham’s initial comments regarding transgender athletes came in an ESPN profile on July 21. “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” Cunningham said, adding, “And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ ”

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She went on to say, though, “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 on Sept. 7, 2024Credit: Liv Lyons/NBAE via Getty

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Cunningham’s comments have inspired protests in favor of her stance against transgender athletes, and she also posed for a picture with conservative activist Riley Gaines during Sunday’s game.

For her part, Reeve spoke to reporters and pushed back on Cunningham’s assessment before her team took on the Fever.

“It is not the case that we have quote biological men in girls’ locker rooms,” Reeve said. “The way it’s being phrased, the innuendo there that somehow transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room.”

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Source: “AOL Sports”