ESPN’s Hallie Grossman’s interview with Sophie Cunningham has once again made Cunningham the focal point in the basketball community. However, this time it isn’t about Cunningham’s viral finger-pointing gesture. Instead, the Indiana Fever guard’s take on the sensitive issue of trans athletes in women’s sports has attracted a lot of controversy, even prompting a response from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Now, days after her July 21 interview, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith has come out in support of Cunningham.

“This notion that you’re hating on the trans community because you are not a proponent of them participating in female sports is utterly ridiculous. Sophie Cunningham said every word right on the money. There’s no hate involved,” Smith said in his post on X on July 24.

He goes on to talk about how this issue has affected the female athletes, citing an instance of a particular player’s involvement.

“There’s only love we’re talking about, but what happened to loving girls who are born biologically as girls?” Smith added. “What about their rights? What about fairness associated to them?… Name is number one. If we’re going to act like transitioning from male to female doesn’t involve an advantage for that trans athlete, I have nothing to say to you. You’re not exercising common sense.”

Smith further delved into the issue by giving a hypothetical example.

“What if an NBA player decided to transition to playing in the WNBA?” he remarked on his Thursday afternoon SiriusXM Radio show.

It’s safe to say that there are enough arguments to be made on both sides of the aisle on the transgender athlete issue. But, as of now, there seems to be no consensus on this controversial issue, and the debate rages on.

Perhaps Cunningham being the focal point of media attention is one of the reasons why her take on trans athletes in women’s sports is getting so much attention. For now, she remains unfazed by all this.

Cunningham Remains Upbeat In Face Of Criticism

After the interview with Grossman was published by ESPN, a section of the fans accused Cunningham of being a “MAGA Barbie.”

However, Cunningham has never been known to shy away from what she believes in, and has remained firm on her stance, insisting that she is not a “very political person” and has her own set of morals by which she operates.

“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense…” Cunningham said. “I think it’s really important to protect children… I don’t dislike anyone. … I’m there to love, but I’m also there to love biological women…” she said ahead of Fever’s franchise record-setting 123-88 win against the Connecticut Sun.

In fact, Cunningham’s opinionated personality has fueled her popularity in recent weeks. After her finger-pointing gesture translated into a global meme, her social media presence has swelled. Her Instagram has over 2.7 million followers now.

She recently got to cameo as a ring girl during the co-main event at UFC 329, even posing with former featherweight champion Max Holloway, doing her famous meme. At her Simple Truth Sophie Cunningham Basketball ProCamp in Carmel, Indiana, last Sunday, hundreds of kids greeted the WNBA star with the same gesture.

For now, Cunningham will look forward to some time off basketball and controversies and enjoy the All-Star break.