Sophie Cunningham has spent much of the summer willing to address one of the WNBA’s most contentious debates. But the Indiana Fever guard is making clear that she does not intend to become part of anyone else’s political campaign.
In an ESPN interview published Friday, Cunningham responded to Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declaring themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, drawing a firm line between her own views and their efforts.
“I’m gonna let them do them,” Cunningham said. “I’m just focused on the Fever and on our sport. I think we have four more games left. I’m trying to just really dial in and keep the main thing the main thing.”
The distinction is notable because Kanter Freedom has repeatedly referenced Cunningham as he has intensified his criticism of the WNBA’s transgender eligibility policy. He attended Indiana’s Aug. 23 game against the Chicago Sky wearing a shirt that defined a woman as an “adult human female.” He was later ejected after an exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Kanter Freedom, who has publicly described Cunningham as “my friend,” later claimed that she texted him, “What happened?” Cunningham has not confirmed that account and has not publicly aligned herself with his larger campaign.
Her decision not to engage does not represent a shift in her stance. Cunningham has previously said she supports limiting girls’ and women’s sports to transgender girls and women, while pushing back on claims that her position reflects hatred toward transgender people.
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“I think that I am here to extend love,” Cunningham told ESPN in July. “But I also think with that love is truth.”
On Friday, however, Cunningham’s attention was on a different subject: the Fever’s push toward the WNBA playoffs.
Indiana stands at 26-14, sits fifth in the WNBA standings and is competing for home-court advantage with four regular-season games still to play.
Cunningham, who is averaging 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists, said spending her “brain and energy” on off-court controversy would take away from a Fever team she believes has the potential for a deep postseason run.
For once, one of the WNBA’s most outspoken players made her position clear by declining to say much more: Kanter Freedom can run his campaign. Cunningham has games to win.