The Washington State high school girls who protested a transgender teammate by walking out of a cross-country race were commended by WNBA star Sophie Cunningham.
“Good work girls,” Cunningham discussed the protest in a comment on an Instagram post by XX-XY Athletics.
Her past defense of adolescent fans involved in an altercation at a Seattle Storm game after demonstrating support for her position on women’s sports was reflected in the three-word statement.
During a meet versus Battle Ground on October 13, over a dozen runners from Camas High School left the track. Before transitioning to girls’ competition, their teammate had started the season participating in boys’ races.
Plans for a rally in favor of the runners on October 21 have been sparked by the controversy, which has garnered national attention.
Cunningham has previously maintained that women’s and girls’ sports ought to be segregated by gender. She refuted claims that she detested transgender individuals in a July ESPN profile, characterizing her stance as defending possibilities for girls.
Later that month, two adolescent fans who were wearing XX-XY Athletics jerseys and carrying a sign applauding Cunningham for standing up for girls went to a Fever-Storm game at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.
Celeste Keaton, a co-owner of Storm, allegedly confronted the teenagers and cursed at them. Keaton was then prohibited from attending Seattle’s next five home games and fined an undisclosed sum by the WNBA.
“Bravo to those gals for sticking up for what they believe,” Cunningham said on X after reposting OutKick’s coverage of the Seattle controversy in July. Cunningham also stressed that she thought disagreement shouldn’t stop kindness and that she welcomed people regardless of gender identification. However, she condemned Keaton’s behavior harshly.
Cunningham penned, “Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately, it shows the type of leader she is.”
Ginny Gilder, the majority owner of Storm, expressed regret for the co-owner’s remarks.
“Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome,” in a remark, Gilder reiterated the team’s dedication to treating supporters with dignity.
At the time, The Fever claimed that neither Cunningham nor the group had any prior knowledge of the protest outside the Seattle arena or communication with its organizers.
As voters get ready to approve Initiative 638 on November 3, the Camas controversy has brought Cunningham’s backing back to Washington. The bill would require medical professionals to confirm a student’s biological sex and forbid biologically male students from participating in some female-only school sports.
Proponents claim that the plan would safeguard fair competition. Opponents claim that it would discriminate against transgender females and impose more privacy and medical requirements.
According to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), its gender-identity eligibility policy complies with state law, and it is not permitted to impose any proposed limitations that would be against the law.
Amy Sousa, who assisted in planning protests in support of Cunningham during the WNBA season, is planning the October 21 “Camas Courage” march.
“You should not have to become student activists. Adults are now taking the reins, and adults are standing up,” Sousa commented in an interview.