Fire fans didn’t offer a warm welcome to Sophie Cunningham.
The Fever star was booed by fans during Friday’s game in Portland at the Moda Center as fallout over her comments regarding trans athletes continues.
Earlier this month, Cunningham made waves for saying she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men” in an ESPN profile.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) during warmups before the game against the Seattle Storm. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The discourse around the quote was amped up when a pair of young fans, wearing apparel from XX-XY Athletics and holding signs supporting the 29-year-old guard sitting courtside for a game in Seattle were allegedly called “f–king insane” by Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton.
One of the fans was reportedly left in tears following the encounter.
Definitely a reaction in Portland as Sophie Cunningham checks into the game.Several fans waiving small transgender pride flags as well. pic.twitter.com/5fidVSgjhA— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) August 1, 2026
Keaton was suspended for five home games and fined an undisclosed amount by the WNBA.
Ahead of Friday’s game in Portland, activist Amy Sousa led a rally in support of Cunningham after having organized one before the Seattle matchup.
“We were just going to do something quiet with just a couple of us, and seeing what happened to those girls, we just thought, ‘We can’t be quiet,’” Sousa told Fox News Digital. “I don’t want to be quiet about this. I want to stand in public solidarity with those girls. I also want to stand in public solidarity with Sophie and keep this momentum going.”
XX-XY Athletics founder and former US gymnast Jennifer Sey plans to hold a rally in support of Cunningham before the Fever’s game in Minnesota on Saturday, Fox News also reported.
Cunningham is no stranger to making headlines as the on-court protector for star Caitlin Clark, and went viral earlier this season for a finger-pointing meme.
