Sophie Cunningham doubles down on defense of girls’ sports
WNBA player Sophie Cunningham stirs debate by doubling down on her defense of women’s sports, emphasizing the foundational role of Title IX. XX-XY Athletics founder and CEO Jennifer Sey champions Cunningham’s stance, noting its alignment with widespread beliefs and legal precedents despite media backlash.
The issue of biological men participating in women’s sports has been a major issue for years now. It’s a polarizing debate among people from the highest offices in government to everyday citizens.
Yet despite the prominence of this issue and conversation, many of the world’s most influential female sports stars have never publicly addressed it. Some have, unfortunately, openly and unapologetically supported male “inclusion,” while others have offered carefully measured responses. Shockingly, many have simply never been asked about it, from what I can see in the public record.
Sophie Cunningham became one of just a handful of prominent female athletes to take a strong stance in the effort to “protect young girls” by keeping women’s sports female.
Cunningham’s statements have made me wonder what exactly some of the most prominent female athletes (past and present) have said on the issue.
‘Save Girls Sports’ protestors and trans athlete AB Hernandez (Getty Images)
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Simone Biles (Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast)
Simone Biles reacts after competing on the beam on day three of the gymnastics event finals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games on Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Sports)
Simone Biles became one of the highest-profile female athletes to directly weigh in on the issue in June 2025 during her public feud with Riley Gaines on X.
Biles, arguably the most influential and popular female athlete currently competing today, criticized Gaines after commenting on a Minnesota high school softball championship team, which was playing with a male.
Biles wrote that Gaines was “truly sick” and later argued that sports organizations should find ways for transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports, rather than excluding them altogether. A wildly anti-woman take, if you ask me.
After receiving relentless backlash, Biles apologized for her personal attacks against Gaines, but did not retract her support for “inclusion.”
Biles, when speaking to media following the dispute, reaffirmed that she supports “inclusion,” while acknowledging the conversation around fairness is complex in her opinion.
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A’Ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces – WNBA)
A’ja Wilson attacks the defense during the Las Vegas Aces’ showdown with the Indiana Fever in Las Vegas. (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images))
Back to back WNBA MVP A’Ja Wilson has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women’s or girls’ sports.
Throughout her career, Wilson has frequently spoken about equality, diversity, and inclusion, just like most WNBA players, but there is no known public statement from Wilson addressing eligibility rules involving women or girls sports.
From what I could tell, there is no confirmed instance of Wilson being directly asked about the issue by a reporter, podcast host, or media outlet.
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Serena Williams (Tennis Great)
Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States during their Women’s Doubles match on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic during the US Open Tennis Championship 2022 at the USTA National Tennis Centre on Sept. 1, 2022 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Serena Williams, widely regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time, has never publicly stated a definitive position on male participation in women’s sports.
The interesting aspect in this debate for fairness and safety in women’s sports is that statements she made during a 2013 appearance on David Letterman are used to showcase how superior men are to women biologically in sport.
When discussing the differences between men’s and women’s tennis. Williams said that if she played Andy Murray she would lose “6-0, 6-0 in five to six minutes,” adding that men’s and women’s tennis were “almost two separate sports.”
Those remarks were made in response to questions about whether she could compete with top male players, not about women’s sports eligibility policies. Those comments have undoubtedly been some of the most impactful in the fight to keep women’s sports female, though.
Williams has been a catalyst for the cause, even without knowing what women’s sports would face after ten years following those comments.
Katie Ledecky (Olympic Champion Swimmer)
Katie Ledecky partnered with Core Power ahead of the Olympics. (Core Power)
A nine-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer from the United States, Katie Ledecky, has not publicly taken a side in the issue.
Despite swimming having become one of the central sports in the national debate following the Lia Thomas controversy, Ledecky has largely avoided commenting on political or cultural issues.
Katie Ledecky was directly asked by “The New York Times” in a June 2024 profile about the NCAA Title IX lawsuit stemming from Lia Thomas’ participation in the 2022 NCAA Championships.
Rather than endorsing or opposing transgender participation in women’s sports, Ledecky declined to take a position. The Times reported that she “preferred not to weigh in.”
Ledecky added, “I think we’re lucky to live in a country where issues can be debated,” and emphasized learning from different perspectives. When asked more broadly about politics, Ledecky said, “I don’t want to get into politics,” explaining that she prefers to focus on swimming rather than controversial public debates.
Coco Gauff (Tennis Star)
Coco Gauff of USA reacts against Sorana Cirstea of Romania during the Mutua Madrid Open 2026, ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000, at La Caja Magica on April 26, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images) (Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images)
A top-5 women’s tennis player, Coco Gauff has publicly supported LGBTQ communities and has participated in Pride-related messaging for many years, but she has not publicly addressed transgender participation in women’s sports specifically.
Recently on X, Riley Gaines called on Gauff to speak on the issue. She asked Gauff, “Should women’s sports be exclusive to women?”
Gaines has yet to hear a response.
Caitlin Clark (WNBA Star)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) plays against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 22, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
WNBA superstar and Indiana Fever sharpshooter, Caitlin Clark is one of the few athletes on this list who has been directly asked about the issue.
During Clark’s 2024 interview as “TIME” Athlete of the Year, the magazine asked Clark about transgender participation in women’s sports amid the broader national debate.
Clark responded, “Everybody should have the same rights. I think everybody should be able to be who they are.” She also said transgender people “deserve the same rights and should be treated with the same respect as anybody else.”
Clark unfortunately did not directly answer whether biological males should be permitted to compete in women’s sports. It was a major letdown for many conservatives & parents across the country.
Many are hoping, myself included, that Cunningham will inspire Clark to use her platform to help protect women and girls in their sports and spaces too.
Paige Bueckers (WNBA Star)
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers warms up before a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard Rodriguez)
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers has been very outspoken on racial justice issues and has expressed support for LGBTQ communities throughout her career. However, when it comes to justice for females in their sports, Bueckers has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women’s or girls’ sports.
Recently, Bueckers weighed in on the lack of black female head coaches in the WNBA saying she wants to see “equal opportunity and no discrimination based on what you look like, who you like, and anything of that nature,” but has not spoken up about fairness and equal opportunity in regards to men competing in women’s sports.
Sabrina Ionescu (WNBA Star)
WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu has not publicly stated a position on transgender participation in women’s sports. Although she has spoken extensively about growing women’s basketball and expanding opportunities for female athletes.
Sha’Carri Richardson (American Track Star)
Olympic gold medalist sprinter, Sha’Carri Richardson has not publicly commented on transgender participation in women’s sports. Richardson has frequently spoken about inclusion, respect, and individuality, but there is no known statement specifically addressing male athletes competing in women’s events.
I did not find any interview or podcast where she was asked about the issue.
Still, silence is deafening when athletes like Richardson are happy to talk about a litany of other social issues, but have nothing to say about this.
Richardson is dating a female, while reportedly identifying as bisexual, according to a post from 2015 on Twitter and Bi.org, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see her on the Megan Rapinoe side of the political aisle when it comes to this issue.
Hilary Knight (Olympic Hockey)
Gold medalist Hilary Knight of Team United States celebrates after the medal ceremony for Women’s Ice Hockey after the Women’s Gold Medal match between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Olympic gold medal hockey captain Hilary Knight has publicly supported transgender inclusion in sports.
Following changes to international hockey policies and broader conversations about eligibility rules, Knight expressed support for maintaining welcoming environments for transgender athletes while also respecting governing body decisions.
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I do find this humorous because any high level high school boys team could join the PWHL (women’s pro hockey league) and dominate.
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Knight’s comments came during media discussions surrounding policy changes affecting international hockey. While she was directly asked about inclusion and policy decisions, she did not advocate for blanket exclusion and instead emphasized inclusion and respect for all athletes.
Who will follow Sophie Cunningham’s lead?
As Cunningham has said as she doubled down on her stance, this issue is “common sense.” So, when will one of these prominent female athletes, or others like them, use their platform and voice to speak up for the girls who are desperately looking for one of their inspirations and athletic idols to help protect them from men who are invading their sports and spaces?
