SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark were not made available to answer postgame questions about a rally before the Indiana Fever’s in support of Cunningham’s recent comments about transgender athletes.
A crowd of a few dozen gathered outside Climate Pledge Arena to both support Cunningham and promote statewide Initiatives 638 and 011, which would bar transgender students from participating in girls鈥� athletics at Washington schools.
Cunningham voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls鈥� and women鈥檚 sports Cunningham was booed by Storm fans when she checked into Tuesday鈥檚 game, as well as when attempting her first free throws of the night.
Media members asked to speak to Cunningham and Clark postgame, but neither player was made available. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings addressed the media instead, alongside head coach Stephanie White.
When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham鈥檚 recent comments, a Fever public relations representative intervened with the following statement:
鈥淣either our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淥ur only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.鈥�
Storm head coach Sonia Raman answered a question about the pregame protest following her team鈥檚 seventh consecutive loss.
鈥淪eattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building,鈥� Raman said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door.
鈥淔rom what I understand, that was successful.鈥�
Heather Weiner, a spokesperson for No Hate in Washington State, a coalition of doctors, nurses, anti-domestic violence groups and other community organizations opposing statewide Initiatives 638 and 011, found it to be a positive experience on the whole outside Climate Pledge Arena.
鈥淲ashington State is a very caring, inclusive place,鈥� Weiner said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 always agree, but we do agree against hate, and we will come together about that.鈥�
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