Fans of Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham held a rally outside the Seattle Storm game on Tuesday, July 29th, 2026, in support of Cunningham's recent public stance on women's sports. The crowd displayed signs with messages such as "Thank you Sophie," along with Cunningham's quotes "I said what I said," and "with love is truth," which reflect her position on the issue.

Activist Jean Chadbourne told Fox News Digital, "We proved to the world that women can gather publicly and support female athletes." Despite facing online threats, supporters showed up and reported having a positive experience, with Chadbourne noting, "It's clear that the tide is turning. People are slowly coming around. I think Sophie really helped pushed this issue."

Cunningham addressed criticism, stating, "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that.'" She emphasized her intent to "extend love" while also being honest about protecting young girls in sports from competing against biological men.

Supporters reportedly outnumbered counterprotesters by about 10 to 1, creating a positive atmosphere where many wanted their pictures taken with a large poster of Cunningham. The rally, which became a topic of social media debate, followed Cunningham's revelation of her stance to ESPN the previous Tuesday, which sent shockwaves through the ongoing culture war over the WNBA and trans athletes in women's sports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly expressed support for Cunningham during a briefing. Cunningham's position and the related reporting have been cited in federal government actions concerning Title IX enforcement and covered by major media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press, and ESPN.com.

Fans celebrate Sophie Cunningham at a rally in Seattle
Fans celebrate Sophie Cunningham at a rally in Seattle. (Courtesy of Women Are Real)