Fever: Team, Cunningham unaware of rally in support of her comments on transgender athletes

The Indiana Fever said neither the team nor Sophie Cunningham were aware of the “Support Sophie Cunningham” rally held outside Climate Pledge Arena ahead of their game Tuesday against the Seattle Storm. The event was held in support of the Fever guard’s recent comments regarding transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

“Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers,” a statement from the Fever reads. “Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”

The event was organized by Women are Real, Brandi Kruse and Known Heretic, and comes after Cunningham said in an ESPN profile that she wanted to protect young girls in locker rooms and in sport who “shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

She reinforced those beliefs ahead of last week’s game vs. the Connecticut Sun. 

“It’s kind of common sense, and I think I’ll always believe in that,” Cunningham said. “I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. So I stand on what I said, and I’ll always believe that.”

Images on social media from Tuesday’s event depict dozens of people attending the rally. There were also fans sitting courtside holding signs in support of Cunningham. One sign read: “We love you Sophie.” Another read: “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls.” There were also people at the game and rally to support transgender athletes, according to social media posts. Storm player Stefanie Dolson arrived at the game in a shirt that read “TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS,” according to a social media post by the team.

🗣️🗣️🗣️@AlaskaAir | Arrivals pic.twitter.com/IruaBJsY4J

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) July 29, 2026

“We always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building,” Storm head coach Sonia Taman said of the rally. “I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge (Arena) and with security to make sure everyone feels safe and included and welcomed when they walk through this door.”

The Fever released a statement shortly after Cunningham’s comments last week, reaffirming their commitment to a diverse fan base.

“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own,” a Fever spokesperson said in a statement to IndyStar. “We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever: Team, Cunningham unaware of rally in support of her comments on transgender athletes