Sophie Cunningham takes vicious elbow to face, and fans fume at what refs did next

Tensions flare in Minneapolis as trans activists confront women's sports advocates supporting WNBA star Sophie Cunningham. XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey and Kendall Kotzmacher describe facing hostile counter-protesters outside Sunday's Fever-Lynx basketball game. Sey notes that despite the loud demonstration, over 50 peaceful supporters gathered to show solidarity with female athletes fighting for fairness in competition.

The Sophie Cunningham train rolled through Minnesota on Sunday, and, somehow, it made it through in one piece.

Barely.

Cunningham — who has morphed into the WNBA's most polarizing player — has jumped head first into the trans culture war over the past two weeks, and things are starting to escalate.

PS: You will NEVER guess which side is starting to do the escalating.

Just kidding. It's the left. It's always the left. Duh.

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

Anyway, Cunningham and the Fever lost to the Lynx, 108-100, in a game that featured a dueling protest outside the arena, signage inside the area, and ESPN treating Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve wearing a pro-trans shirt like the falling of the Berlin wall.

Seriously, it was incredible, even for them.

Minnesota Lynx forward Nia Coffey and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham collide in the second quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 2, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cunningham, meanwhile, finished with three points on just 1 of 2 shooting, but was also on the receiving end of one of the nastiest elbows this side of the Mississippi.

Naturally, Sophie was then called for a foul, sending social media into a frenzy:

Amazing. What a scene. What a