ESPN's Stephen A Smith says Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve hurt WNBA with trans shirt controversy

Michele Tafoya joins the program and calls Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham a HERO for standing up for women's sports despite intense backlash from Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, Seattle Storm leadership, and activist critics.

When Stephen A. Smith finally decides to say it, chances are the rest of the country already got there first.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve found herself right in Smith's crosshairs after wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt on the bench, and Stephen A. tore into her activist grandstanding.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reacts in the second half against the Indiana Fever at Target Center on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Reeve chose to wear the shirt during her first matchup against Sophie Cunningham since the Fever guard publicly defended women-only competition.

CHERYL REEVE SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM WITH ‘TRANS KIDS BELONG’ SHIRT DURING FEVER-LYNX GAME

One side sparked outrage over the "erasure" of trans rights; the other contended that preserving parity and safety in competition matters more than inclusion.

Reeve made sure her message landed on one of the WNBA's biggest regular-season stages. But Smith wasn't buying the coincidence.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on against the Indiana Fever in the first quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 2, 2026. (Getty Images)

"And then you're going to come out with a T-shirt. No regard for the WNBA. No regard for the sponsors that may be put off by that. No regard for the bottom line that might be affected," Smith blasted.

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"It's just an