A column in The Athletic calling on the Indiana Fever to part ways with guard Sophie Cunningham over her political views has triggered a broad wave of criticism, with tennis legend Martina Navratilova among the most prominent voices pushing back. The piece, written by columnist Candace Buckner, argued that Cunningham was a «combustible» figure whose «turbulent» opinions were a distraction to the franchise and concluded that the Fever must move on so they «can go back to being a basketball team.»
The reaction was swift and lopsided. Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon champion and a vocal advocate for keeping men out of women's sports, wrote on X that Buckner «seems to forget the W in @WNBA stand for women.» She added that «there was nothing wrong with what Sophie said originally» and that «the policy is the problem, not Sophie Cunningham.»
Cunningham's most publicized stance — that biological males should not compete in female sports — is shared by a large majority of the country, a fact the column acknowledged only indirectly. The column's central claim was that Cunningham's off-court profile had become a distraction for a Fever team built around star Caitlin Clark. Critics argued that no basketball rationale was offered for a move.
The most-liked comment under the column made that point directly. «I clicked on this article because I wanted to see the basketball reasons why they should trade Cunningham,» the reader wrote. «Turns out there are none, and the issue is because of off the court issues with something she said. And that is just stupid.» The commenter compared the situation to the Cleveland Browns employing Deshaun Watson, arguing that the league should be «about the top level of Women's Basketball. Not the top level of women's basketball who happen to agree with you.»
Another widely liked reply was more succinct: «Candace had this one in the drafts for 6 months lol. Sophie did nothing wrong.»
Podcast host Stephen L. Miller focused on what he described as media hypocrisy, mocking the column by writing, «If the San Francisco 49ers want to go back to being a football team, Colin Kaepernick has to go.» The comparison drew on the argument that media figures who once defended Kaepernick's political activism have little patience for a player whose views run in a different direction.
The column also touched on a broader tension around the Fever's fan base. Some players, including Angel Reese and Brittney Griner, have said they heard racist comments from the league's new fans, though critics noted that no evidence of such incidents has surfaced. That gap fueled further frustration online, where the response to the column was overwhelmingly negative.
By the numbers, The Athletic's post linking to the column drew roughly 1,300 comments against about 1,100 likes — a ratio that signaled a flood of disagreement. Buckner did not share the column on her personal account, a step she often takes, suggesting she anticipated the reaction.
The episode reflects a wider debate over how the WNBA handles questions about who competes in women's sports. Critics of the league argue that its reluctance to define eligibility clearly has allowed the controversy to grow, drawing attention from former NBA players such as Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, who have said they intend to enter the WNBA Draft. Supporters of Cunningham say she answered a direct question in an ESPN interview and has been punished for holding a mainstream view.
For the Fever, the practical question remains whether Cunningham, a soon-to-be free agent, fits into the team's basketball plans. The column offered no on-court reasoning for a departure, and the public response suggested that many readers saw the argument as political rather than athletic. As one reader put it, Cunningham «stood up for what she believed in,» and in the wake of the column, much of the public stood behind her.