Riley Gaines Backs Sophie Cunningham, While WNBA, ESPN Push Trans Agenda

Todd Starnes : Aug 3, 2026
ToddStarnes.com

(Riley) Gaines, who attended the game to support (Sophie) Cunningham, said arena personnel attempted to stop her from displaying a small sign that read, "Sophie, thank you—a girl mom."

[ToddStarnes.com] ...The WNBA's culture war over transgender athletes intensified over the weekend as Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham drew both cheers and jeers for her outspoken defense of women's sports, while former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines said she was ordered to put away a sign thanking Cunningham during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Lynx. (Screengrab image: via X-Riley Gaines)

The controversy comes just weeks after Cunningham ignited a national debate by telling ESPN that she believes girls' and women's sports should be reserved for biological females.

"I think that I am here to extend love," Cunningham said. "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."

During Sunday's game in Minneapolis, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a shirt reading "Trans Kids Belong" on the sidelines as Cunningham was repeatedly booed by sections of the crowd. Protesters and supporters gathered outside the arena before tipoff, turning a regular-season WNBA game into the latest flashpoint in America's debate over transgender participation in women's athletics.

Gaines, who attended the game to support Cunningham, said arena personnel attempted to stop her from displaying a small sign that read, "Sophie, thank you—a girl mom."

"I checked all the sign policies before I went in there," Gaines told OutKick. "I made sure it was like 11 by 17. That's the sign size you could have. So, I got a ruler out. You better believe I was measuring it."

According to Gaines, an arena employee told her, "Well, because it has her name on it. It has Sophie's name on it, so you can't have that." Gaines said fans seated around her objected, noting there were numerous other signs bearing players' names. She refused to remove the sign, later saying, "What are you going to do, kick me out? Go for it."

Adding to the controversy, ESPN's game broadcast featured commentary encouraging viewers to embrace transgender inclusion in sports, underscoring the widening divide between league officials, media partners and many fans over the issue.

On the ESPN broadcast, play-by-play commentator Ryan Ruocco acknowledged the message and context of Reeve's shirt.

"We see Cheryl Reeve wearing a shirt today in support of trans kids. 'Trans kids belong' is on the shirt. This is in the aftermath of Sophie Cunningham's recent comments," he said. Color analyst Rebecca Lobo came in with a suggestion.

"I would encourage anyone to go and listen to Cheryl Reeve's comment. Incredibly thoughtful, easy to find online," she said.

Despite the hostile reception, Cunningham later posed for photographs with Gaines while holding the same sign arena staff had reportedly tried to remove. Gaines said the encounter demonstrated that Cunningham remains undeterred by the criticism... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here