Riley Gaines Commends Sophie Cunningham for Courageous Stance

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and host of “The Riley Gaines Show,” has praised WNBA player Sophie Cunningham for her bold stance on biological men competing in women’s sports. Gaines referred to Cunningham as a “rare voice of courage” in what she called the “most woke league of all time.”

Cunningham, who plays for the Indiana Fever, declared her opposition to biological men participating in women’s sports, receiving negative feedback suggesting she was anti-trans. She clarified that her stance stems from a desire to protect young girls in sports.

“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans,” Cunningham told ESPN. “I never once said that. I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sports who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” she stated.

Following her public comments, Cunningham received backing from Republican lawmakers such as Senators Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt. Despite the risk of losing opportunities due to her stance, Gaines expressed her admiration for Cunningham’s courage.

“To be very clear, I don’t think Sophie is doing or saying what she does because she wants fame,” said Gaines.

Jennifer Sey, CEO of XX-XY Athletics, showed interest in having Cunningham represent her brand, calling her the “perfect person for us.” Sey commended Cunningham’s personality and authenticity, noting her connection with the brand through an ad that challenged Nike to oppose biological males competing in women’s sports.