Sophie Cunningham certainly dealt with a ton of boos on Tuesday night when the Indiana Fever faced the Toronto Tempo, but she also received support from a Canadian athlete.
Prior to Tuesday night’s game at Scotiabank Arena, Canadian powerlifting champion April Hutchinson was outside of the arena showing her appreciation at a pro-Cunningham rally. Her and other supporters were spotted in XX-XY Athletics T-shirts.
Hutchinson, a three-time former Team Canada member, clearly agreed with Cunningham’s stance on transgender inclusion in women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” Cunningham told ESPN. “And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. 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.”
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.
Even though Cunningham has received plenty of backlash over the past few weeks, Hutchinson didn’t spot too many people trying to oppose Tuesday night’s rally.
“Only about five were wearing protect trans kids and protect the dolls t shirts, [they] walked by and said that our signs were disrespectful,” Hutchinson told Fox News Digital.
As for Cunningham’s critics…
Following the Fever’s win over the Tempo last night, Cunningham spoke highly about all the fans in Toronto – even the ones who booed her every time she touched the basketball.
“I want to shout out the, the Tempo crowd and the city. I think we’ve had so much fun. It’s my first time being in Canada. It’s a lot of our first times being in Canada, but the crowd was absolutely amazing,” Cunningham said, via Daily Mail. “And, you know, I think that’s what sports is all about. You’re going to get boos, you’re going to get cheers. But just the fact that they’re so passionate, they’re loud, and they’re putting on for the city, I think it’s amazing. So shout out to you guys for coming out and supporting.”
Cunningham and the Fever will return to the spotlight Thursday night for a showdown with the Dallas Wings.
