As another rally in support of Sophie Cunningham’s comments is set to take place ahead of the August 2nd matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx, one of the WNBA’s most influential voices has made her position clear. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve addressed the planned rally before team practice.
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Reeve made it clear that though she believes people have the right to protest peacefully, she wants the WNBA to prioritize ensuring that fans and players feel safe.
“I don’t think we should feel like our safe space is being threatened,” she told reporters. “I don’t think these demonstrators are not being peaceful, not that I’ve seen. I haven’t seen all of it. I haven’t heard everything that’s happening. But everyone has a right to peacefully assemble, whether you agree with them or not.
“The narrative that I think that is problematic is to suggest that number one, that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports. I think this is what’s bothersome is that there’s a faction of people in our country that are making this a massive issue.”
Reeve’s remarks come after the announcement of another rally taking place in support of Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes in an ESPN profile and in subsequent interviews. Similar rallies have already taken place before the Fever’s games in Seattle and Portland, though Cunningham has made it clear that she has no role in organizing them.
The Minnesota coach has long supported transgender inclusion in sports, having commented on the issue on July 17th, days before Sophie Cunningham. It came after Reeve was asked about the Supreme Court ruling protecting state laws that allow them to define participation in women’s sports.
Now, the coach added that protecting transgender youth is a fundamental human rights issue, but acknowledged that the issue poses nuanced questions which deserve properly thought-out solutions instead of blanket execution, especially in the case of pro sports and elite competition like the Olympics.
“It is not the case that we have, ‘biological men’ in girls’ lockers,” she added. “The way it’s being phrased, the innuendo there that somehow transgender women are predators of some kind in the locker room. There’s a lot of narrative that is problematic that we need to address. That is simply not what’s happening. I’ve encouraged the WNBA leadership years ago. ‘What’s our stance? Are we gonna be ready?’ It would make sense for our league to be leaders in this.”
Reeve also explained that the nuance extends when it comes to the science behind transitioning and hormone therapy, and that she has chosen to educate herself by talking to families with transgender kids, and that “exclusion is not the answer.”
She concluded with a poignant statement, highlighting that there are more pressing issues that she thinks need the focus from women concerned about their rights.
“We’re still not in a space where we have equality,” she said. “We don’t even have the Equal Rights Amendment in all 50 states, right?”
With another rally expected before tipoff on Sunday, Reeve has made it clear she believes that debate and inclusion can coexist.
“What I know is that exclusion is not the answer.”