Sophie Cunningham has a problem with WNBA reporters.
The Indiana Fever guard, who has made all sorts of headlines in recent weeks, is calling out the WNBA's media for not focusing enough on basketball. Cunningham called out the league's media while speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
"The WNBA media... all we ever do is cover everything except basketball. What are we doing?" she asked.
Cunningham has a point - much of the discourse surrounding the WNBA in recent years has been about everything but basketball - but she should be taking some of the blame for that right now, too.
It was Cunningham, of course, who chose to share her opinion on transgender athletes in a profile with ESPN. It was Cunningham who doubled down on her opinion while speaking to WNBA reporters.
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham told reporters before a game earlier this month. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
It was also Cunningham who posed for a photo with political activist Riley Gaines following a game.
Of course, Cunningham is well within her rights to say and act how she pleases. But she can't then get upset when that becomes the story, instead of what's happening on the court.
All sports, from the NFL to the NBA to the MLB to the WNBA, often revolve more around whatever drama is taking place within the league, rather than what's happening on the court or the field, at least in terms of the social media discussions, ESPN segments, etc. It's harder and harder to get lengthy coverage or discussions of the Xs and Os.
Fans are calling out Cunningham for her 'hypocrisy'
WNBA fans are blaming Cunningham for some of the conversations surrounding the league.
"Oh so now she wants to stick to sports?" one fan wrote.
"You opened your mouth. What did you think was gonna happen!?" one fan added.
"She's literally the one who brought it up. Now she's above it all and only wants to talk basketball?" one fan added.
"She can't seriously be telling the media to 'stick to the sport' after doing a court-side photoshoot with Riley Gaines???????????" one fan added.
Again, Cunningham can say and do whatever she wants, but she then has to lay in the bed she's made for herself.
