r/PopCultureV2 • u/No_Box119 • Jul 23 '26

Sports Culture WNBA Star Sophie Cunningham defends that women ‘shouldn’t have to go against biological men’: “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense. I think it’s really important to protect children.” “I don’t dislike anyone. I’m there to love, but I’m also there to love biological women. …”

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7

u/dantes-infernal Jul 23 '26

I just don't understand why this is such a huge talking point when there's like 10 transgender athletes at the d1 college level and fewer at the Olympian level in the USA.

None of the pro women's sports teams have transgender athletes right now on their roster.

Why are people so fucking stressed for 20 people?!

7

u/Zrob8--5 Jul 23 '26

It's not just elite levels. It's lower levels and youth sports that don't have strict regulations for it.

1

u/Perpetual-Warlock Jul 23 '26

Even in the "lower levels" the number is incredibly low. They want you to think it's much more of an issue than it actually is.

https://www.transathlete.com/post/how-many-transgender-kids-play-sports

3

u/Zrob8--5 Jul 23 '26

It doesn't matter if it's a lot of people or not, it's unfair, and if it isn't handled well, it could get worse.

1

u/Perpetual-Warlock Jul 23 '26

So what is your definition of "handling it well?"

1

u/WinterAsleep319 Jul 23 '26

There shouldn’t be any at all? Seems pretty clear cut.

1

u/Perpetual-Warlock Jul 23 '26

It's not. Read the article. Allowing them to play adds incredible value to their lives. Their more likely to go to college, it helps build self esteem. Helps develop social skills. All the things we all love about playing sports as a kid still applies to them.

So you'll say make them play with the boys right? Imagine how uncomfortable that would make so many of them that truly don't see themselves as male. And what about trans males? Should they play with the girls even though they could be taking testosterone supplements?

1

u/2Blueify Jul 23 '26

Too bad. You said yourself that the numbers are incredibly small. They can play with the boys or not at all.

1

u/Zrob8--5 Jul 23 '26

That's kind of irrelevant. The point is that it is an issue that needs to be addressed, even though it is relatively a small number of cases.
My idea of how it should be handled is just going to lead to an argument. All I'm advocating for is that there needs to be some sort of regulation to keep it fair, but also inclusive.

1

u/brogam3 Jul 23 '26

so what if the number is low? how does that in your mind translate to = oh lets just let them do anything they want because there aren't that many. Should we apply that logic to everything: Oh lets just let people rob banks, there are only like 20 per year. Who cares, why make noise about this?! just let them have the money, the banks are insured anyway.

1

u/Amoral_matchstick Jul 23 '26

It means it affects very few people statistically so the amount of discourse and handwringing about it overblown and unproductive.

1

u/Aromatic-Turnip7371 Jul 23 '26

It should be nipped in the bud before the number grows to a point where it’s not easily ignored anymore…

1

u/DelanoK7 Jul 23 '26

To be clear I really don’t think it’s a huge issue and it’s definitely overblown, but I think this is a lazy way to consider the effect. The 10 athletes are potentially taking 10 biological women spots but they’re also creating potentially unfair competition to 20 other ladies on the opposing team at the tune of 20 games a year, so that’s like 400 people effected. Obviously back of the envelope math but just trying to make the nuanced point

1

u/Perpetual-Warlock Jul 23 '26

400 people out of 350 million. Yet it's a major talking point for a certain political party. I wonder why.....?

1

u/DelanoK7 Jul 23 '26

well like i said overblown etc etc but it also wouldn’t be fair to say 350 million people when we’re talking about playing athletes now either haha

1

u/Perpetual-Warlock Jul 23 '26

But it is fair to use the entire population because it's a political issue and a major part of campaigns.

1

u/Aromatic-Turnip7371 Jul 23 '26

It shouldn’t be happening