Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham has stated that rallies against transgender participation in women's sports are not a distraction for her WNBA team. Cunningham made these comments before the Fever's game on Friday night against the Portland Fire.
Outside the Portland venue, a group rallied for the second consecutive game in support of Cunningham and her recent statements regarding transgender athletes. Cunningham said she believes she comes in and does her job, and that the rallies do not cross her or her teammates' minds.
The Portland rally followed a similar event earlier in the week before the Fever's game at the Seattle Storm. Both rallies reportedly attracted around two dozen participants. A co-owner of the Storm, Celeste Keaton, was later fined an undisclosed amount and suspended for five games by the WNBA for an exchange with two supporters at the Seattle game.
Coach Stephanie White expressed concern that the controversy was distracting from the team's play, stating a desire to focus on basketball. Cunningham was booed by the Moda Center crowd in Portland when she entered the game, with many waving small transgender flags.