Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve took a diplomatic tone while addressing the apparent political difference between herself and Fever star Sophie Cunningham following Minnesota’s win over Indiana, in a game where the basketball coach wore a shirt that read “Trans Kids Belong.”
Cunningham has made waves over her public position on trans athletes and kids in women’s and girls’ sports, something she does not support, and first made that public in a profile published by ESPN.
The comments, which Cunningham doubled down on in subsequent media appearances, have generated plenty of opinions on their own throughout the W as well as from fans. Rallies in support of Cunningham’s stance have appeared outside arenas in Seattle, Portland and in Minnesota.
Reeve has shown her support for trans-athletes and addressed the topic on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s contest, and before the game, she was seen speaking with Cunningham.
“I think it’s great, I think both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about more than anything wanting to educate,” Reeve said. There’s some things we have in common and maybe some things you differ on, just like any issues. I think it’s how you handle things and so it was nice to be in person for sure”
At the time when Reeve and Cunningham were spotted talking at center court ahead of the game, the Lynx coach was not wearing the “Trans Kids Belong” shirt that she wore during the game.
The ESPN on ABC broadcast addressed Reeve’s comments she made the day before while showing the moment she and Cunningham had spoken.
On Saturday, Reeve seemed to respond to Cunningham’s comments, although she never mentioned her, while expressing her support for the trans-athletes.
“It is not the case that we have, quote, biological men in girls’ locker rooms, the way it’s being phrased, the innuendo there that somehow transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room,” Reeve said. “There’s a lot of narrative that is problematic that we need to address. That is simply not what’s happening.”
She also said: “Number one, we need to protect trans kids, every kid. To me, it’s a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports. Regardless of gender diverse, transgender. Every kid has the right to access.”
Cunningham has faced support, but also pushback over her opinions, and in Portland on Friday she was booed by the crowd.
During Sunday’s game in Minnesota, she was also booed by fans.
“I’m here to play basketball, but I’m also here to be me,” Cunningham said after the Portland game. “I’m not going to shadow that or hide or dim my light just because maybe people don’t agree with that.”
