There was a lot of intensity in the building when the Indiana Fever paid a visit to the Portland Fire on Friday night.
Most of that intensity came from leftist fans who were upset that Fever star Sophie Cunningham voiced her support for keeping biological men out of women’s sports. A stance you’d think is universal among female athletes and fans of women’s athletics in general… but here we are.
However, Cunningham didn’t let that get to her; in fact, she did the exact opposite, and it was summed up nicely in a heartwarming moment with a young fan after the game.
FEVER SHUT DOWN SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM QUESTIONS, ABRUPTLY END PRESS CONFERENCE
Sophie Cunningham signs autographs for fans ahead of the Indiana Fever’s game against the Portland Fever on Friday. (Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images)
Cunningham was welcomed onto the court in Portland with boos and fans waving transgender flags, and she quickly shut them up by burying a three-pointer and sending a quick message of her own.
Cunningham finished the night with 13 points and 3 assists, and the Fever went on to win 112-98 thanks in large part to a triple-double from Caitlin Clark.
But after the game, Cunningham showed that she practices what she preaches.
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In the ESPN profile that sparked the events of the past week, Cunningham talked about wanting to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
So, after what had to be one of the more intense games of her WNBA career, Cunningham had an incredible moment with a young fan in which she gave her one of her game-used shoes.
Hang on to that shoe, young lady; those things are tough to find these days.
What a moment, and one that the young girl will never forget. You can also see that Cunningham’s willingness to support women and girls is being felt, and in this case very much appreciated.
Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever celebrates a three-pointer against the Portland Fire on Friday night. (Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images)
As Riley Gaines recently pointed out, the WNBA is at a crossroads where it must decide whether its priority is growing the next generation of girls who will one day join its ranks or political activism.
I think this is a pretty good example of why the former is the right choice.
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And yet, if you ask some of the people protesting in Portland — which is like the city’s official pastime at this point — or the co-owner of the Seattle Storm, Cunningham is the villain in all of this.
Yeah… okay.