Ever since she entered the WNBA, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has been enormously popular amongst conservative sports fans, becoming a sort of lightning rod for political and social discussion. However, Clark is now facing some criticism after she declined to take a stand on the trans sports debate.
Following Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Lynx, Clark spoke to the media for the first time since teammate Sophie Cunningham spoke out against transgender women competing in women’s sports. However, Clark chose not to take a stand on the issue, and prominent conservative commentator Megyn Kelly is not happy.
Cunningham’s Comments
Last month, Cunningham sparked widespread controversy when she publicly shared her controversial stance on transgender athletes.
During a recent interview for an ESPN profile, Cunningham was asked about her political beliefs, including the “MAGA Barbie” nickname that has followed her in recent months. In her response, the Fever guard addressed the issue of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she told ESPN. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
A few days later, Cunningham doubled down on her stance, calling it “kind of common sense.”
“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said earlier this week. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”
Cunningham also revisited the topic in a post on X while reacting to a recent incident involving two teenage girls who said they were verbally confronted by a Seattle Storm co-owner, who was later suspended.
“I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind,” Cunningham wrote in a post on X. “Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon yay for gifts. Truly embarrassing of the co-owner.”
Although Cunningham was not made available to reporters following the Fever’s win over the Seattle Storm earlier this week, she addressed the continued backlash before Friday night’s game against the Portland Fire, making it clear that she has no intention of backing down from the criticism surrounding her remarks. She also pushed back on any claim that it was impacting the team.
Clark Declines to Take a Side
Ever since Cunningham’s very public stance against transgender athletes, Fever star Caitlin Clark had not spoken to the media and therefore had not offered her response to Cunningham’s comments. That changed on Sunday night.
Following the team’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Clark was finally asked about the issue, but she declined to take a side.
“I think, for us, it’s not really a discussion we really have in our locker room,” Clark said. “I think it’s for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That’s what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn’t do that tonight.”
Clark declined to answer a follow-up question, as she simply replied, “I just answered for you.”
Megyn Kelly Not Happy
Clark’s decision not to take a stance on the issue led to some heavy criticism. On Monday, prominent conservative commentator Megyn Kelly joined those voices.
In a post on X, Kelly had just one word to express her disappointment in Clark’s comments.
“Coward,” Kelly wrote in her post.
When someone pointed out that Kelly had previously said that Colin Kaepernick should shut up and focus on football, she offered an explanation for why she felt that this situation was different.
“He injected lies about cops in America into football games,” Kelly wrote in a post. “Men in women’s sports is an issue affecting girls/women right now IN HER SPORT which she refuses to address. There are high school girls actively being harmed by boys playing basketball right now. 5 in one game not long ago. They are powerless to change it. She isn’t. If you don’t see the difference I can’t help you.”
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.