Sophie Cunningham not concerned about being a distraction for Fever - ESPN

PORTLAND, Ore. — Sophie Cunningham says she's unconcerned that the rallies against transgender participation in women's sports that have accompanied the Indiana Fever's recent games are a distraction for the WNBA team.

Cunningham made the comments before the Fever's 112-98 win Friday night against the Portland Fire. Outside, a group rallied for the second straight game in support of Cunningham and her recent comments about transgender athletes.

«I think at the end of the day, I come in and I do my job,» Cunningham said. «I think everyone who knows me personally, they know that I'm full of love. I'm bubbly. I love the people around me. I love basketball. I love inspiring the next generation and doing that in a positive light. And so that doesn't even cross my mind. Doesn't cross my teammates' minds.

»And again, I'm here to play basketball, but I'm also here to be me, and I'm not going to like shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don't agree with that."

Portland's rally came after a similar one for Cunningham earlier in the week before the Fever's matchup at the Seattle Storm. Both rallies attracted only about two dozen participants and a bevy of onlookers.

«I have honestly had nothing to do with them,» Cunningham said. «I think it's people just practicing their rights of freedom of speech and doing what other fans have been doing since the WNBA has started. And so props to them, props to everyone who is able to be competent and be bold and courageous enough to speak their truths.»

Another rally was planned for Sunday in Minneapolis when the Fever play the Minnesota Lynx.

In Seattle on Monday, two Cunningham supporters sat courtside at Climate Change Arena holding signs. A co-owner of