Trump Comments on Sophie Cunningham at Ohio Rally

During a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, President Donald Trump complimented Sophie Cunningham’s looks, hinting that her presence could draw more fans to a sports team.

While discussing the topic of transgender athletes, Trump referenced Cunningham, a guard for the Fever, who has stirred controversy in the league for her strong stance against allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports.

He posed a question to Jon Gruden, a former NFL coach who was present, about whether he had ever felt “desperate” for a woman to join his championship rosters. This led him to mention Cunningham, eliciting cheers from the audience.

“A lot of men like to watch her. Sophie Cunningham is a beautiful young woman. You probably wouldn’t mind her on the team not just for points but to boost attendance,” Trump remarked, drawing laughter from the crowd. He cautioned that in today’s political climate, calling a woman beautiful can be career-ending for politicians.

The Fever’s season concluded after they lost to the Aces in the first round of the WNBA playoffs, bringing an end to Cunningham’s campaign.

Cunningham, who has also played football in high school, gained attention throughout the season, particularly after expressing her views on barring transgender athletes from women’s sports in a July ESPN profile.

She clarified her position, stating, “I received a lot of backlash for supposedly hating trans individuals, but that’s not what I said. I believe in love, while also standing for truth and protecting young girls in sports.”

She further explained, “I find myself in the middle of the debate, agreeing and disagreeing with both sides. That’s what I’ve always conveyed, yet people love to jump to conclusions.”

Cunningham’s remarks have stirred significant discussion among players, coaches, and fans across the WNBA, sparking protests during games and prompting the league to respond.

This offseason, she will enter free agency after averaging 7.9 points per game, her lowest performance over the last five seasons. It marked her second year with the Indiana team and the eighth season in her career, having been drafted as the 13th overall pick by the Mercury in 2019.