Minnesota Lynx Coach Advocates for Transgender Rights Amid Protests

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reaffirmed her support for the transgender community on Thursday, as protests regarding trans athletes in women’s sports unfolded outside her team’s game—the third time this season such events have occurred.

Reeve spoke about the issue following the Lynx’s regular season finale, where they secured an 86-66 victory against the Indiana Fever at Target Center. This was at least the fourth instance this season that she has publicly addressed transgender topics during WNBA media appearances.

“I think that’s probably one of the more meaningful things that would mark the season for me,” Reeve stated. “It’s important to support the transgender community, and what’s happening in sports is essentially an attack on their existence.” She emphasized her belief that, honestly, there seem to be forces that wish to erase transgender people.

Earlier in the season, on August 2, Reeve wore a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt during a previous matchup against the Fever. This occurred shortly after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham voiced her stance on excluding biological males from women’s sports.

On Thursday, rallies from “Save Women’s Sports” activists emerged outside Target Center, again supporting Cunningham and attracting pro-trans counterprotesters. A similar demonstration took place during another Lynx game against the Golden State Valkyries in mid-August.

During the August contest, Reeve and Cunningham conversed at midcourt. Reeve later expressed that both recognized their roles and were interested in educating the public, even though they did not see eye to eye on the matter.

Wearing the “Trans Kids Belong” shirt was, for Reeve, a “small gesture.” However, the feedback from transgender individuals and their families turned it into a significant moment for her this season. “The communication from people affected by something as simple as a T-shirt helped them feel recognized,” she mentioned. “It’s a small act, but one I deeply believe in.”

She added, “If I managed to influence even one person’s perception of themselves, that’s important. For the transgender community, this issue is often a matter of life and death.” Reeve noted how many parents of transgender children reached out to her, sharing that her actions helped their kids feel more validated and accepted.

Reeve first spoke on this topic during a media session in July, following Supreme Court decisions that upheld state laws limiting transgender participation in women’s sports. She described the political focus on trans athletes as somewhat disheartening and reiterated that “exclusion is never the answer.”

Just before the August meeting with Indiana, she addressed the rally supporting Cunningham’s viewpoint, respecting the right to protest while arguing that framing transgender athletes as a major issue in women’s sports missed the mark. “Every kid should have the chance to participate in sports, regardless of their gender identity,” Reeve asserted, while agreeing that eligibility concerns can get complicated after puberty.

After that particular game, she reiterated that transgender children should indeed have access to sports, while pointing out that activists often overlook other barriers that female athletes face, like poor facilities and lack of proper equipment.

Cunningham has insisted that her stance isn’t based on animosity but rather a protective instinct for young girls involved in sports. “I’m here to extend love, but I also think honesty is important,” she previously stated. “I want to protect young girls in locker rooms from competing against biological males.”

The ongoing discourse led the WNBA to hold meetings with team leaders throughout the season. The league clarified there were currently no significant transgender eligibility issues, underscoring its commitment to fairness, competitive integrity, and inclusion. Notably, no transgender woman has participated in the league so far.

Following the victory against Indiana, the Lynx wrapped up the regular season with a stellar 33-11 record, while the Fever slipped to 28-16, entering the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.