WNBA player Sophie Cunningham praised about a dozen girls from Camas High School who walked off a cross-country course during an Oct. 13 meet against Battle Ground, after a transgender teammate entered the girls’ competition. Cunningham commented “Good work girls” on an Instagram post by XX-XY Athletics about the protest.
The teammate had competed in boys’ races earlier in the season before switching to girls’ competition, according to the supplied report. The walkout has drawn national attention, and organizers are planning an Oct. 21 rally in support of the Camas runners.
Cunningham has previously argued that women’s and girls’ sports should be separated by sex. In a July ESPN profile, she said her position was about preserving opportunities for girls and rejected claims that she hated transgender people. She has also said she welcomes people regardless of gender identity and believes disagreements should not prevent people from treating one another kindly.
Her latest comment follows a separate dispute at a Seattle Storm game in July. Two teenage fans attended a Fever-Storm game at Climate Pledge Arena wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts and carrying a sign thanking Cunningham for speaking up for girls’ sports. The teenagers alleged that Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton confronted them and used profanity.
The WNBA fined Keaton an undisclosed amount and suspended her from attending Seattle’s next five home games. Cunningham reposted OutKick’s coverage of the incident on X, writing, “Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe.” She also criticized the conduct attributed to Keaton, calling it “Truly embarrassing of the co-owner” and saying it reflected on Keaton’s leadership.
Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder apologized for Keaton’s comments. In a statement, Gilder said everyone attending a Storm game should feel welcome and reaffirmed the team’s commitment to treating fans respectfully. The Fever said at the time that neither the team nor Cunningham had advance knowledge of the demonstration outside the Seattle arena or contact with its organizers.
The Camas dispute is unfolding as Washington voters prepare to consider Initiative 638 on Nov. 3. The measure would bar biologically male students from competing in certain female-only school sports and require a health care provider to verify biological sex. Supporters say the proposal would protect fair competition; opponents say it would exclude transgender girls and impose medical and privacy burdens.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has said its eligibility policy, based on gender identity, follows state law. The association also said it cannot adopt proposed restrictions that would conflict with that law.
Amy Sousa, who helped organize demonstrations supporting Cunningham during the WNBA season, is organizing the Oct. 21 “Camas Courage” rally. In an interview, Sousa said adults were taking the lead so students would not have to become activists.
