The Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham received an unexpected birthday present on Sunday when a backlash ensued following her remarks about transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. These comments have stirred considerable debate among fans and sports commentators.

Criticism emerged from several quarters, including Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. Reeve expressed her stance by wearing a shirt that read ‘Trans Kids belong’ during a recent game against the Fever. This public gesture highlighted the differing opinions surrounding Cunningham’s statements.

The online reaction to Cunningham’s comments ignited a social media storm. Despite no official reprimand from the WNBA, Cunningham has faced consequences elsewhere, such as being banned from the WNBA subreddit. This forum, operated independently from the league, has barred users from mentioning several terms associated with the athlete, including ‘Cunningham’ and ‘Sophie.’

According to the New York Post, a Reddit user, Adventurous_Hope_101, shared their correspondence with the subreddit moderator, who explained the reason behind the ban. The moderator indicated that filtering content related to Sophie Cunningham helps prevent trolling and disrupts those unsupportive of the WNBA. They advised users desiring open discussion about Cunningham to explore other subreddits.

When the user challenged the prohibition, questioning the rationale behind barring discussions about a specific player, the moderator warned of further bans. They suggested that non-contributors should consider engaging in other forums, reiterating that persistent inquiries might lead to banning.

The controversy sparked by Cunningham’s comments may eventually prompt action from the league. Recently, WNBA team presidents convened to examine the league’s transgender eligibility policy. This meeting followed declarations by two male former NBA players who intend to enter the 2027 WNBA draft.