On Saturday, August 9, 2026, supporters of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham held a calm rally outside Chicago's United Center. However, they were met by a group of mask-wearing counterprotesters who displayed signs, played loud music with vulgar and inflammatory lyrics, and used profanities and insults. Some of the music included chants such as, "And we'll never rest again until every Nazi dies" and "F— these f—ing fascists."

The counterprotesters carried signs with messages including "Go Home Losers," "Trans Kids Belong in Sports," and "Rise Up Against Trans Hate." A self-identified transgender woman among the protesters told a reporter, "I feel like our rights are being violated," before another masked protester interrupted the interview, accusing the reporter of being "hostile media."

The rally highlighted tensions surrounding the WNBA and its policies. Jennifer Sey, Women's All-Around National Champion and founder of XX-XY Athletics, commented that "The WNBA is living in 2020," suggesting the league is hesitant to firmly maintain that it is exclusively for women.

Inside the arena, controversy continued when Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected after a flagrant foul on Cunningham. During the review, a fan wearing a trans rights t-shirt was featured on the arena screen.

This event underscores the ongoing divisiveness in sports and society regarding gender identity and women's sports.

Sources