--- title: "Caitlin Clark comments on Sophie Cunningham's trans athlete stance after WNBA game" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/caitlin-clark-comments-on-sophie-cunninghams-trans-athlete-stance-after-wnba-gam" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/caitlin-clark-comments-on-sophie-cunninghams-trans-athlete-stance-after-wnba-gam" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/caitlin-clark-comments-on-sophie-cunninghams-trans-athlete-stance-after-wnba-gam.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/caitlin-clark-comments-on-sophie-cunninghams-trans-athlete-stance-after-wnba-gam" category: "Media" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-04T08:25:29.732Z" source_reported: "2026-08-03T23:31:09.000Z" updated: "2026-08-04T21:45:52.052Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 55 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-07T11:29:02.972Z" --- # Caitlin Clark comments on Sophie Cunningham's trans athlete stance after WNBA game *Clark said the issue is for leagues to address, not players, after the Fever lost to the Lynx 108-100* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Only one outlet provided a full report; others are digests. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Quotes and context limited to one outlet's report. - Hype 55 of 100, lower is better. Headlines across outlets sensationalize the story. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Caitlin Clark addressed Sophie Cunningham’s stance on transgender athletes after the Fever’s 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on 3 August 2026. - Clark said the issue is for leagues and governing bodies to handle, not players, and that the team focuses on basketball. - Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve criticised the narrative that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports. - No left- or right-rated outlets reported on Clark’s comments, according to the material available. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark commented on teammate Sophie Cunningham’s stance regarding transgender athletes after the Fever’s 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on 3 August 2026. Clark said the issue was not a topic of discussion in the team’s locker room and should be addressed by leagues and governing bodies. The exchange followed Cunningham’s earlier remarks, which had drawn public attention. Clark and Cunningham were prevented from speaking to reporters after the Fever’s win over the Seattle Storm on 29 July 2026, as reported by ESPN. The outlet suggested the media blackout was likely to avoid questions about an anti-trans protest outside the arena in Seattle. Clark’s comments on 3 August were her first public remarks on the subject. Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve spoke to reporters before the game against the Fever. Reeve said she comes from a space of inclusion and criticised the narrative that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports. She called the focus on the issue bothersome and said a faction of people in the U.S. was making it a massive issue. ## What the coverage left out No left- or right-rated outlets ran this story, according to the material available. The only report published was from a centre-rated outlet. ## Who covered it Shares of the 21 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 29% (6) - Centre: 23% (5) - Right: 48% (10) 3 of 24 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-07T11:29:02.972Z. **Coverage watch:** closed. Checked 9 times; 3 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-09T02:15:43.013Z. Watch closed 2026-08-09T02:15:43.013Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The six left-rated outlets all reported that Caitlin Clark addressed Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes in women’s sports after a WNBA game on 2 August 2026. They agreed Clark did not endorse Cunningham’s stance and avoided taking a clear position herself. - People, OK! Magazine, BlackSportsOnline, and Complex led on Clark’s refusal to engage with the question, describing her response as silence, dodging, or shutting down the reporter. BlackSportsOnline and The Blast included that Clark became combative or enraged when pressed. The Blast and Latin Times also reported Megyn Kelly’s criticism of Clark’s response as cowardly. - Latin Times alone mentioned wider consequences of Cunningham’s comments, including rallies and a team co-owner’s suspension. None of the digests quoted Cunningham’s original remarks or included a direct statement from her. ### Centre - The only report published, by Clutch Points, led on Clark’s comments and included her full statement. It described the controversy as surrounding Cunningham’s stance on transgender athletes. The report quoted Clark saying the issue was for leagues and governing bodies to resolve, not players, and that the team’s focus was on basketball. - Clutch Points also included Reeve’s remarks, framing them as a defence of trans athletes. The report noted that Clark and Cunningham had been kept from the media after the Seattle Storm game, attributing the detail to ESPN. It did not quote Cunningham directly or include her perspective on the issue. ### Right - All six right-rated digests report that Caitlin Clark responded to questions about Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender athletes in women’s sports. None of the digests quote Clark endorsing or opposing Cunningham’s stance. - Five of the six digests lead on Clark’s refusal to take a position. Breitbart states she did not back Cunningham. The New York Post, TMZ, RedState, and ussanews.com describe her response as evasive or careful. US Daily Report notes the balancing act modern athletes face in public debates. - None of the digests include a direct quote from Cunningham. None mention the substance of Cunningham’s original comments or the governing bodies Clark referred the issue to. **Settled coverage blindspot:** left. This finding was made after the coverage watch closed. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 4 - mixed: 10 - high: 3 - unknown: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [BroBible](https://brobible.com/sports/article/caitlin-clark-reacts-to-backlash-controversy) — Caitlin Clark Reacts To Backlash For Refusing To Comment On Trans Athletes In Women's Sports Amid Sophie Cunningham Controversy - [Heavy](https://heavy.com/sports/wnba/indiana-fever/colin-cowherd-caitlin-clark-controversial-topic) — Colin Cowherd Reacts to Caitlin Clark's Stance on Controversial Topic - [Pro Football Network](https://profootballnetwork.com/wnba/caitlin-clark-analyst-sophie-cunningham-trans-athlete-drama) — ‘Caitlin Clark Owes Nobody’ – Analyst Defends Fever Star Against Backlash for Not Weighing In on Sophie Cunningham Trans-Athlete Drama - [patriotnewsfeed.com](https://patriotnewsfeed.com/caitlin-clark-forced-to-finally-address-sports-gender-controversy) — Caitlin Clark Forced to Finally Address Sports Gender Controversy - Patriot Newsfeed - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/04/caitlin-clark-forced-to-finally-address-sports-gender-controversy) — Caitlin Clark Forced to Finally Address Sports Gender Controversy - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/outkick-sports/womens-advocacy-groups-respond-caitlin-clarks-answer-demonstrations-fever-games) — Women's advocacy groups respond to Caitlin Clark's answer on demonstrations at Fever games - [The Comeback](https://thecomeback.com/wnba/despicable-jemele-hill-explains-her-issues-with-shameful-sophie-cunningham.html) — 'Despicable': Jemele Hill explains her issues with 'shameful' Sophie Cunningham - [NewsBusters](https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/alex-christy/2026/08/04/jemele-hill-hints-sofie-cunninghams-defense-womens-sports-costs) — Jemele Hill Hints Sofie Cunningham's Defense Of Women's Sports Costs Lives - [Total Pro Sports](https://totalprosports.com/wnba/indiana-fever/caitlin-clark-biggest-coward-in-sports-video-post) — Video Post Accusing Caitlin Clark Of Being The "Biggest Coward in Sports" Has Garnered Over 4.7 Million Views - [Sportskeeda](https://sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-pity-martina-navratilova-slams-caitlin-clark-s-trans-athlete-stance-amid-sophie-cunningham-controversy) — "Pity" - Martina Navratilova slams Caitlin Clark's trans athlete stance amid Sophie Cunningham controversy - [The Blast](https://theblast.com/830159/megyn-kelly-caitlin-clark-transgender-debate) — Megyn Kelly Blasts 'Cowardly' Caitlin Clark For 'Refusing' To Pick A Side On Transgender Debate - [Latin Times](https://latintimes.com/sophie-cunninghams-trans-athletes-stance-has-turned-wnba-season-national-argument-598426) — Sophie Cunningham's Trans-Athletes Stance Has Turned the WNBA Season Into a National Argument - [US Daily Report](https://usdailyreport.com/2026/08/04/caitlin-clarks-blunt-transgender-debate-response-leaves-sophie-cunningham-alone-in-wnba-firestorm_n_62135.html) — Caitlin Clark’s Blunt Transgender Debate Response Leaves Sophie Cunningham Alone in WNBA Firestorm - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/sophie-cunningham-is-no-ones-culture-war-punching-bag) — Sophie Cunningham Is No One’s Culture War Punching Bag - [BreezyScroll](https://breezyscroll.com/sports/caitlin-clark-sophie-cunningham-trans-athletes-response) — Caitlin Clark Responds to Sophie Cunningham's Trans Athlete Comments, Says Fever Is Focused on Basketball - [Clutch Points](https://clutchpoints.com/wnba/indiana-fever/fever-news-caitlin-clark-controversy-sophie-cunningham-trans-athlete-stance) — Caitlin Clark breaks silence on controversy surrounding Sophie Cunningham's trans athlete stance - [OK! Magazine](https://okmagazine.com/p/wnba-star-caitlin-clark-breaks-silence-sophie-cunningham-drama-tense) — WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Says Teammate Sophie Cunningham's Comments About Transgender Athletes Isn't 'Discussed in the Locker Room' - [BlackSportsOnline](https://blacksportsonline.com/2026/08/caitlin-clark-gets-riled-up-when-asked-about-sophie-cunninghams-transgender-comments) — Caitlin Clark Gets Riled up When Asked About Sophie Cunningham’s Transgender Comments - [Complex](https://complex.com/sports/a/backwoodsaltar/caitlin-clark-hits-back-trans-athlete-question) — Caitlin Clark Shuts Down Reporter’s Question About Sophie Cunningham’s Anti-Trans Athlete Comments - [RedState](https://redstate.com/kyle-becker/2026/08/03/caitlin-clark-speaks-out-about-sophie-cunningham-controversy-shuts-reporter-down-fast-n2205108) — Caitlin Clark Speaks Out About Sophie Cunningham Controversy, Shuts Reporter Down Fast - [TMZ](https://tmz.com/2026/08/03/caitlin-clark-dodges-question-on-sophie-cunningham-trans-athletes-stance) — Caitlin Clark Snaps at Question About Sophie Cunningham's Trans Athlete Controversy - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/03/sports/caitlin-clark-breaks-silence-on-sophie-cunningham-drama-in-testy-exchange-with-reporter) — Caitlin Clark breaks silence on Sophie Cunningham drama — in testy exchange with reporter - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/sports/2026/08/02/caitlin-clark-declines-to-back-sophie-cunningham-on-protecting-womens-sports-from-trans-athletes) — Caitlin Clark Dodges Question on Protecting Women's Sports - [People](https://people.com/caitlin-clark-breaks-her-silence-on-sophie-cunninghams-controversial-anti-transgender-comments-12032612) — Caitlin Clark Breaks Her Silence on Sophie Cunningham’s Controversial Anti-Transgender Comments ## Questions **What did Caitlin Clark say about Sophie Cunningham’s stance on transgender athletes?** Clark said the issue was not a discussion in the team’s locker room and should be handled by leagues and governing bodies, not players. She made the comments after the Fever’s 108-100 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on 3 August 2026, as reported by Clutch Points. **Why were Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham prevented from speaking to reporters after the Seattle Storm game?** ESPN reported that both players were kept from the media, likely to avoid questions about an anti-trans protest outside the arena in Seattle. The incident occurred after the Fever’s win over the Storm on 29 July 2026. **What did Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve say about transgender athletes?** Reeve said she comes from a space of inclusion and criticised the narrative that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports. She called the focus on the issue bothersome and said a faction of people in the U.S. was making it a massive issue, as quoted by Clutch Points. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/caitlin-clark-comments-on-sophie-cunninghams-trans-athlete-stance-after-wnba-gam. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Caitlin Clark comments on Sophie Cunningham's trans athlete stance after WNBA game", https://mediabias.news/media/caitlin-clark-comments-on-sophie-cunninghams-trans-athlete-stance-after-wnba-gam