Sydney Colson slams Sophie Cunningham over trans remarks — SkimNews
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- Sydney Colson blasted former Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham on her podcast, telling white players who make harmful comments about trans issues they "ought to be ashamed" and earn no respect from the rest of the WNBA.
- Sophie Cunningham told ESPN earlier this season she wanted to "protect young girls in the locker room" and that they "shouldn't have to go against biological men," and has refused to backtrack: "I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense."
- Cunningham wore a hat reading "No Cis, Just... Woman" to a Florida vs. Missouri football game after Indiana's first-round playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces, and told ESPN she is "here to extend love" despite the negative feedback.
- Cunningham is an unrestricted free agent after her one-year, $665,000 contract with the Fever expired; she spent the last two seasons in Indiana after beginning her career with six seasons on the Phoenix Mercury.
- The WNBPA released a statement in August declaring the 200-plus-member union "will not be used as political pawns" and that "hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm."
- Colson, a two-time WNBA champion who played 30 games for the Fever in 2025, said she lost respect for her former teammate, arguing that players who stay silent when issues affect their teammates "don't get respect."
Why it matters: The public intra-team split lands as Cunningham enters free agency after her $665,000 Fever deal expired, and against a WNBPA August statement declaring the union 'will not be used as political pawns.' For a free agent shopping her next contract, the cost of outspokenness on this issue is now being priced by teammates, not just front offices.
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