Writer arrested for allegedly beating wife calls Sophie Cunningham 'anti-trans, anti-black' in wild op-ed

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.

"She is every bit as political as Colin Kaepernick."

That's how sportswriter Howard Bryant described WNBA star Sophie Cunningham in a Guardian op-ed.

Bryant argued that Cunningham embraced right-wing politics by saying young girls should not have to compete against biological males in sports.

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"I think that I am here to extend love," Cunningham told ESPN last month. "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."

Most of the country agrees with Cunningham. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 79% of Americans oppose allowing individuals who were male at birth to compete in female sports categories.

Still, the loud, radical minority pushing to erase sex-based competition makes up much of the sports media. That's why the usual suspects — Jemele Hill, Katie Nolan, Sarah Spain and now Bryant — have reacted so angrily to Cunningham's comments.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham reacts to game action against the Portland Fire during the first half at Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on July 31, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Later in the piece, Bryant also accused Cunningham