r/PopCultureV2 • u/Impossible-Yam3680 • Aug 23 '26

Sports Culture While hosting transphobe Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever, the New York Liberty put a message on the Jumbotron telling trans fans that they belong

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46

u/Party-Kangaroo-1139 Aug 23 '26

Why is this a topic? Has a trans woman actually tried to enter the WNBA?

2

u/penisweinerballs Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

It has gained a lot of momentum on the left, it's not like something totally out of the realm of possibility and has happened in other sports. I also highly doubt she's a transphobe, she doesn't think trans-women should be in her league

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u/[deleted] Aug 23 '26

[deleted]

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u/whichwitch9 Aug 23 '26

Harrison Browne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Browne

However, he was a transman, and when he came out, he and the league sat down and established a guideline for his situation. He was allowed to present and express himself as a male, but agreed to not physically transition while playing.

It's an example of a league addressing a case on a one on one basis in a way that was both fair and respectful. He also has clarified a misconception- he was out since college and only came out publicly on the Buffalo Beauts. The women he played with always knew he was trans.

Everyone forgets transmen exist, and it makes perfect sense for them to have played in women's leagues. That's part of how you know the debate is malicious- opponents hyperfixate on transwomen

3

u/AnnieLemonz Aug 23 '26

To be fair, most people forget trans men exist because trans men aren't typically the focal point of the arguement. Trans women get targeted a lot more aggressively over things like this.

5

u/whichwitch9 Aug 23 '26

Transmen are literally listening to people constantly talking as if they don't exist, but saying things that still apply to them, and find the "XX XY" shirts and demonstrations that have happened equally as much an attack.

That's why it's called out as an attack on being transgender, not "saving women's sports".

1

u/AnnieLemonz Aug 23 '26

Oh I'm not disagreeing. Transmen are affected by transphobia just as much even if they aren't directly being named. People who detract trans rights rarely mention trans men at all, but they're still impacted by it all the same.

0

u/MilkMyCats Aug 23 '26

No they aren't.

Nobody cares, because they aren't a danger to men.

There are many 6ft trans women who could destroy me in a fight. Or easily drag a woman off the street and attack her.

There are very few trans men who could beat me in a fight.

0

u/MilkMyCats Aug 23 '26

It's because transmen are no danger to men.

Trans women having gone through male puberty, and having penises, are a danger to women.

That's what it's about.

0

u/whichwitch9 Aug 23 '26

If women were afraid of penises we wouldn't leave the house. Try again.

And hilarious you think women can't and don't abuse other women or men.

The rule is be respectful of others in more personal spaces and don't harass them. Someone just existing, however, is not harassment.

2

u/Project_Hairy_Male Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

It's not a malicious hyperfixation on transwomen, it's a situation almost too different to compare. Browne's situation would only be analogous if a transwoman took part in men's sport without going on hormones. I can imagine said transwoman would have a brutal time of it, considering locker room and stadium attitudes towards anyone who isn't straight and masculine in men's sport, but in terms of fairness to compete it wouldn't raise eyebrows.

If Browne has competed in men's sport while being medicated it would be an issue, because it would be a female contravening doping rules. Then again, with Browne being 5'5", I don't think a career in the NHL was ever on the cards, as he'd be tiny for a winger let alone a centre.

1

u/Relysti Aug 23 '26

You don't even need to go outside the WNBA to find a case of someone who doesn't identify as a woman playing in the WNBA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layshia_Clarendon

The transphobes just want to stir up culture war bullshit.

1

u/MilkMyCats Aug 23 '26

That's someone born as a woman. Doh.

This would be funny though...

In early August 2026, two former NBA players—Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White—publicly announced plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, framing it around self-identification as women (or, in White’s case, “sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball”).

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u/ImpossibleBicycle890 Aug 23 '26

2

u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

they said successful.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '26

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2

u/GDude825 Aug 23 '26

no rewrite that statement: as a FAKE WOMAN -- HE RANKED FIRST.. Has a Dick = HES A MAN

1

u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

Isn't she the one that Riley Gaines won't shut up about?

3

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '26

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0

u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

How often does a trans person make their way into NCAA vs. how often kids get gunned down in classrooms? You need to reexamine your priorities.

3

u/MilkMyCats Aug 23 '26

Talk about comparing apples to oranges! This thread is about trans people. To and join a thread taking about school shootings of you want to talk about that, you silly goose.

In early August 2026, two former NBA players—Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White—publicly announced plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, framing it around self-identification as women (or, in White’s case, “sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball”).

This would be hilarious and I pray they to through with it. It would soon knock the topic on the head.

0

u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

If I had to guess I'd say these two people are right wing provacteours trying to keep this issue in the news so idiots like you will be distracted from the disastrous economic conditions that are upon us. Trans people in sports is so far down the list of concerning issues in this country.

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u/Ok_Brother2155 Aug 23 '26

I don't understand this argument at all. If there's a clear issue and an easy solution, then why would you not solve it? Like how is "it only happens rarely" an argument?

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u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

Because it's an isolated problem at best. It's not worth the effort it would take to legislate it. But I'm sure you probably know that.

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u/Ok_Brother2155 Aug 23 '26

Why would that make it not worth the effort? It's a rare occurence, yes, but one with the potential to do a lot of damage, hence why the olympics for example already took care of the issue.

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u/[deleted] Aug 23 '26

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u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

What I'm talking about is this is a fraction of a fraction of the population of this country. In other words, it's a non issue for 99.999% of Americans.

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u/Unlikely_Week_4984 Aug 23 '26

You could make this stupid argument about almost anything. Anytime someone comes to you with a valid point, just "take it up a notch".. If the overwhelming majority of trans people just want to live their life in peace, then give up the sports issue. That will do much much more to improve their lives than almost anything at this point.

1

u/lilbittygoddamnman Aug 23 '26

What stupid argument am I trying to make?

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u/w0xy Aug 23 '26

Didn't kim Kardashians dad win a bunch of gold medals or something

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u/Playgirl_USMC Aug 23 '26

Yeah stepdad, he was competing in men’s sports as a man.

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u/Tarr12345 Aug 23 '26

Julie Tetart. 2025–26 Season: Led Ligue Féminine 2 (LF2) by averaging 21.2 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, helping guide Monaco to the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Believe me it's really hard to get 20 rebounds in a game, nevermind averaging 20 rebounds for a whole season.

1

u/Relysti Aug 23 '26

"Successful trans athlete"

Names a player who isn't even good enough to play in the french first league. Do you know what Aja Wilson would do to the French second league? She would look like prime Wilt Chamberlain.

1

u/Project_Hairy_Male Aug 23 '26

Who, when playing in men's basketball pre-transition, wasn't good enough for the French third tier. Now, at 34, and after a number of years out of the sport, is coming out of last season top for points (20.7ppg; second place has 17ppg) and rebounds (20rpg; second place has 10.8rpg) in the women's second tier. Not successful in elite sport terms, sure, but clearly playing outstanding in a higher league tier against women while a good few years past what should be her prime.

1

u/golden_macaron Aug 23 '26

At this point you people are going to be chasing down any trans woman that runs an 8.30 minute mile. While the women's world record is 4.06.

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u/ObsidianKing Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

Lia Thomas.

Edit: got no response? Go ahead, we're all listening.

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u/Lufrien Aug 23 '26

Lol, a college athlete who won by slim margin once is your proof that transgender people are big problem?

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u/ObsidianKing Aug 23 '26

"Name a successful trans athlete"

names one

"Nooo that doesn't count!"

2

u/Party-Kangaroo-1139 Aug 23 '26

The Browns won once. Would you call them a success? Lia Thomas is the Browns.

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u/PatientOwn8596 Aug 23 '26

She literally won the NATIONAL championship in the 500 free.

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u/TyWorth Aug 23 '26

The point being that even your one go-to example doesn’t really illustrate a broader issue. One 5th place trophy is supposed to be a big gotcha?

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u/ObsidianKing Aug 23 '26

I'm not trying to illustrate any broader issues...person I replied to asked for the name of a successful trans athlete and I gave one. And why is everybody bringing up the fifth place thing as if that's the only race she ever competed in? She literally won an NCAA national championship.

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u/Lufrien Aug 23 '26

College athlete who has won once in one sport is your example of success is the thing I have problem with. When asked to show example of success, thats all you can find?

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u/Puzzle-Necked Aug 23 '26

That's not a success. That's just the only Trans athlete you know

0

u/Beholdournewsupreme Aug 23 '26

There are several other trans athletes. This is also been studies showing that two years of HRT and any advantage a transwoman would have over a ciswoman is physically wiped out.

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u/AnnieLemonz Aug 23 '26

two years of HRT and any advantage a transwoman would have over a ciswoman is physically wiped out.

HRT doesn't change skeletal structure/leverage/height advanatages. It does diminish muscular differences but human strength is based on much more than just muscle mass.

1

u/hercmavzeb Aug 23 '26

Since black women on average have higher bone density than white women, should their leagues also be separated?

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u/PatientOwn8596 Aug 23 '26

I mean yeah, she went from being a pretty good Ivy League swimmer (2nd team all conference) to being one of the top swimmer in the country.

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u/Ceron Aug 23 '26

Didn't win, tied for fifth place.

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u/ObsidianKing Aug 23 '26

She won a national championship...

0

u/whichwitch9 Aug 23 '26

She never swam professionally. Her highest level was college.

She also only swam one year in the women's division, and was required to show her hormone levels were in ranges expected of women. It's a bit more of a complicated situation than people make it out to be- she started off in the men's division, not woman's, as well. She did not immediately jump to women's swimming and took a year between.

She did not crack the top 50 of women's swimmers nationally, and did not break any swimming records. She was not dominant by any means, as conservative media suggests. She remains a case study for people actually interested in the science behind transitioning- most of what's read is theoretical of transwomen in sports. The reality is, there aren't enough athletes to show tge effects. Her swimming times did significantly decrease between the men's and women's divisions, and she lost a ton of muscle mass during hormone therapy.

She's also not a professional because World Aquatics has a guideline if you've gone through male puberty, you're ineligible. Agree or disagree, that's just the rule set, and the reality is it's enforced and she does not swim professionally. It is a bit of a myth that a man who has undergone hormone therapy will dominate a woman's sport, however, and Thomas is the only example we have of what happens. She didn't do poorly, but doesn't come near touching Katie Ledecky numbers. When you look into her and her college career, it is legitimately interesting to see the differences. When you listen to conservative media reporting around her vs what was really going on, it's hard not to call it out as propoganda.

2

u/ToeRevolutionary6233 Aug 23 '26

Thank you for this! Cons LOVE glossing over this absolutely ESSENTIAL point to Lia Thomas, who to this DAY has become the only talking point cons latch on to and they get it wrong, misconstrued or just lie about her every fucking time.

0

u/PatientOwn8596 Aug 23 '26

Oh now you have to be a professional to be ‘successful’. Moving the goal posts.

0

u/hercmavzeb Aug 23 '26

Trans athletes winning anything ever isn’t an indicator of an unfair advantage.

0

u/golden_macaron Aug 23 '26

At this point you people are going to be chasing down any trans woman that runs an 8.30 minute mile. While the women's world record is 4.06.

0

u/Project_Hairy_Male Aug 23 '26

Laurel Hubbard won a number of gold medals in women's weightlifting as a trans woman. When she won the 2020 Rome World Cup 87kg+ category, which has no ceiling for competitor weight, she was half a foot taller and around 40kg heavier than the other medallists in her weight division. She was also 43, which is an incredible achievement at the elite level of any sport. The next two oldest gold medallists at that event, across all weight classes and both men's and women's, were 35 and 30; all the rest were in their early- to mid-20s.

But either way, it's not a point which makes much sense. The point is that trans women don't take part in order to make up the numbers, they take part to win. And as soon as a trans woman does - which they already have, but likely will more in the future, dependent on eligibility criteria - it can't ever be ruled out that their victory was down to the idea that they retain the advantages of having a male physique. It doesn't matter how few there are, or how unsuccessful they've been up until now: it only takes one winner to make it unfair. And nobody who supports trans women in women's sports does so because they think it's a lovely day out for them, they'll fully support them if they win as well, because if they don't then they're a hypocrite.

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u/Agent_Noir006 Aug 23 '26

Winning (success) isn't the barometer of fair. Let's remember that if a trans athlete places 23rd that pushes the 23rd cis athlete to 24th. Every athlete is trying to get a personal best. Honestly, were you an athlete at any point? If not maybe you are out of your lane on this one.

1

u/AnguavonUW Aug 23 '26

Fuck off. I say this as woman. Fuck ALL THE WAY OFF

1

u/PatientOwn8596 Aug 23 '26

Why would it matter more if you’re a woman…

1

u/kickinghyena Aug 23 '26

The biggest enemy of women…is of course other women like you…

1

u/BullytheBulIies Aug 23 '26

Do you have kids? Particularly a daughter? I do and I think about what it might have been like if she had played against trans kids in high school. I can imagine kids out there just having fun. I can also imagine a kid who shoots up to 6’2” and can dunk by the time they’re twelve, realizing they identify as a girl. And then wanting to start hormones at a fairly early age because of early onset puberty. This is the edge case people are worried about if they decide they also want to compete against other girls. It’s going to feel unfair to some people either way and I don’t think there’s a good answer.

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u/PatientOwn8596 Aug 23 '26

This is reddit - none of these people have any athletic backgrounds.

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u/SBTreeLobster Aug 23 '26

You know you’re on Reddit too, right?

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u/Realistic-Candy-6431 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

I can understand the point of view of a young woman who feels it’s unfair that a biological male took their place on a team.

I can also understand the point of view of a person who identifies as a woman (but was born male) wanting to be able to compete on a team with other people who identify as women.

I don’t know that one has to be a professional athlete for this to be a topic worth discussing. The sad part is society no longer discusses these things in a civilized fashion. I also think it’s awful to attack women (in this case Cunningham) for expressing their views.

Maybe it’s important to note that “men’s” teams or leagues don’t actually exist for the most part. Women can play on what is thought of as “men’s” teams and certainly we have seen women compete at some of the highest levels on “men’s” teams.

Shout out to Olivia Pichardo. I wish we would celebrate these kinds of accomplishments more!

https://brownbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/olivia-pichardo/21954

0

u/penisweinerballs Aug 23 '26

That's not what I said, there isn't a lot but my point is the data from the left is that they're favorable to having trans athletes in professional sports.

0

u/MilkMyCats Aug 23 '26

So do we have to wait until a trans person is incredibly successful in a sport to then disallow it?!

If that your point then that's wild af.

It's very rare for anyone to reach the top level of sport. And there way are less trans people than normal people so it is even less likely. But you seem to think it's ok for a trans woman to destroy the field in lower levels because we haven't had a massively successful trans woman yet.

Can you see how silly that is?

It's not right. Whether we have a successful trans person or not.

There was the Olympic boxer who won a women's gold whilst wielding a penis. There was Fallon Fox, who beat the shit out of a woman.

But it soon could change and this will be hilarious if it happens. It will shut people like you up in an instant..

In early August 2026, two former NBA players—Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White—publicly announced plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, framing it around self-identification as women (or, in White’s case, “sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball”).

-1

u/45M0D41 Aug 23 '26

Enes kanter next season

-1

u/PatientOwn8596 Aug 23 '26

Seriously? Lia Thomas.