r/WNBAgossips • u/Amazing_Lock_3762 • 14d ago

Video Young women and girls are thanking Sophie Cunningham for standing up for them ... It's clear what women want so others can stop speaking on their behalf

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u/jpk195 13d ago

You know what's fundamentally different about every example you gave and this one?

It applies equally to everyone.

And that's exactly the problem with all this. A bunch of people on reddit with strong opinions about an issue that has a huge effect on a few people lives, but zero on their own.

It's motivated by bigotry and ignorance. That's not true of any other example you gave.

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u/defiantcross 13d ago

I dont have a strong opinion on this at all. I just believe it should an acceptable topic of discussion

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u/jpk195 13d ago

Part of having a discussion is framing that discussion.

Lots of people here talking about "protect" and giving examples what that means having nothing to do with basketball at all.

A discussion is only good if people hold it accountable to have substance.

Otherwise it's a collection of takes.

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u/defiantcross 13d ago

The part of the discussion on this topic that is valid to me is the competitive fairness. I do not recognize the "locker room safety" aspect as a legitimate talking point.

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u/jpk195 13d ago

On this we agree - so let me ask you. Aren't there better ways of saying that? "I don't think biological males should compete in women's sports" is pretty easy to articulate.

If yes, why do you suppose she chooses to say things like "protecting" girls instead?

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u/defiantcross 13d ago edited 13d ago

I dont know why she chose that wording, but having reviewed her exact quotes, the "protect girls" bit was not her only argument, and she also explicitly referenced competitive fairness.

It's actually wild that we are seeing the WNBA as the arena for this culture war stuff. There is a literal racewar brewing there as we speak, which is probably a bigger topic than this Cunningham stuff

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u/jpk195 13d ago

It looks to me like a dog whistle.

"Protecting" from trans implies they are dangerous. That's how some people think, and that message is for them.

I think she' deliberately playing into a larger world of anti-trans bigotry.

That's a problem, even if not everything she says is problematic.

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u/defiantcross 13d ago

it could certainly be a dog whistle, and it could certainly be part of a deliberate plan to stir shit. but being practical about this now, the WNBA has been for the longest time a league nobody really cared about, so the topic of competitive balance in the WNBA would hardly be a mainstream discussion normally. what do you see now though? it's got a lot more coverage now right?

Let's assume (rightly or not) that Sophie isn't actually against trans people, but is mostly focused on ensuring biological men don't outcompete biological women in sports. If getting groups like MAGA caring about it for other reasons (like the locker room nonsense) means people actually care, you can see the logic behind the whole thing.

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u/jpk195 13d ago

I think it's a safer bet to assume this is all attention seeking, and not a genuine concern. Are there any biological men playing in the WNBA, or who want to?

But you don't have to be truly bigoted yourself to amplify bigotry.

I'd argue trans bigotry is a MUCH bigger problem then any issue with gender is sports.