Sophie Cunningham remained a featured part of USA Network's halftime show promotion during its WNBA broadcasts this week.
The Indiana Fever guard has sparked a lot of controversy this month. Cunningham, who starred collegiately at the University of Missouri, is in Year 2 with Indiana. She was recently profiled by ESPN, where she made it clear that she is not supportive of transgender athletes playing in women's sports.
In the ESPN article, Cunningham said that she wants to “protect young girls in the locker room” and that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said. “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.”
Cunningham has faced support from some, but backlash from others.
This week, WNBA writer Lindsay Gibbs called out USA Network, for still promoting Cunningham as part of the halftime show.
"Quite the choice to still have Sophie Cunningham as part of the halftime show today," she wrote on X.
A second Sophie Cunningham 'rally' is planned for Friday night
A pro-Sophie Cunningham rally took place in Seattle on Tuesday night. Friday night, a second Sophie Cunningham rally has been planned.
"A second Sophie Cunningham rally has been planned for tomorrow night's Indiana Fever game in Portland against the Fire, an organizer has told me," Jackson Thompson of Fox News reported.
The flyer adds: "Let's keep the momentum going."
Cunningham has continued to receive a lot of support from some in the women's sports world, while receiving backlash from others.
USA Network, though, appears to be standing by the decision to promote Cunningham on the halftime show.
