WNBA player Sophie Cunningham has reignited the conversation around the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports by staunchly defending the exclusivity of female sports. Her perspective highlights the foundational role of Title IX, aligning with views held by many professionals and advocates, including XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey, despite facing media criticism.
The issue of biological men participating in women’s sports has been contentious for years, drawing opinions from all levels of society, from top government officials to everyday citizens. Notably, many prominent female sports figures have avoided taking a public stance on this matter. Some have openly supported male inclusion, while others have cautiously expressed their views. Surprisingly, some athletes have never been queried about this issue in public forums.
Sophie Cunningham’s Bold Stance
Sophie Cunningham stands out as one of the few athletes who openly advocates for keeping women’s sports exclusively for women. Her vocal position on this matter aims to protect young girls in sports.
Position of Other Female Athletes
Several other female athletes, such as Simone Biles, A’Ja Wilson, and Serena Williams, have varied stances on this issue:
- Simone Biles: In a public exchange on social media in June 2025, Biles supported inclusion in sports, suggesting that transgender athletes should have opportunities in women’s sports rather than exclusion. Although she apologized for personal remarks, she did not retract her support for inclusion, calling the conversation around fairness complex.
- A’Ja Wilson: Despite regularly speaking on equality and diversity, Wilson has not publicly addressed the question of transgender eligibility in women’s sports. There are no recorded instances of reporters asking her directly about this issue.
- Serena Williams: Known as one of the greatest tennis players, Williams has never clearly articulated her position on male participation in women’s sports. Her past remarks during a 2013 interview on David Letterman, where she admitted the biological differences between men’s and women’s tennis, are often cited in this debate.
Other Prominent Female Athletes
Other athletes have similarly refrained from taking a definitive stand:
- Katie Ledecky: The Olympic champion has largely avoided political and cultural debates. When asked by “The New York Times” about Lia Thomas’s NCAA participation, Ledecky declined to comment, stressing the importance of open debate.
- Coco Gauff: While actively supporting LGBTQ rights through various platforms, Gauff has not spoken on transgender inclusion in women’s sports. Recent calls by Riley Gaines for Gauff to address the issue remain unanswered.
- Caitlin Clark: Clark supports equal rights for all, as shared during an interview with “TIME.” However, she did not clearly state her stance on male participation in women’s sports, leading to disappointment among some audiences.
- Others like Paige Bueckers and Sabrina Ionescu: Despite being vocal on social justice matters, neither has commented publicly on this topic.
Seeking Leadership in Sports Advocacy
The silence from many of these athletes is significant, given their platforms and influence. As calls for more prominent female athletes to support women’s sports explicitly grow louder, the leadership exhibited by Sophie Cunningham serves as inspiration. Advocates are hopeful that more influential figures will step forward to defend the exclusivity of girls’ sports.