Trans debate hovering over WNBA reaches Toronto with rally for Sophie Cunningham

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsCanada Trans debate hovering over WNBA reaches Toronto with rally for Sophie Cunningham Supporters of a WNBA player at the centre of the transgender athlete debate rallied outside her team's game in Toronto on Tuesday, the first such gathering held outside the U.S. Author of the article: By Mason Kossak Published Aug 19, 2026 3 minute read Join the conversation Canadian powerlifting champion April Hutchinson at 'pep rally' for WNBA player Sophie Cunningham outside of the Scotiabank Arena. PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK /Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Post Article content Supporters of a WNBA player caught at the centre of a debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports led a rally outside her team’s game in Toronto on Tuesday. Article content Ahead of the hometown Tempo’s game against the Indiana Fever, a group gathered on the sidewalk outside Scotiabank Arena bearing signs in support of Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, whose July comment to ESPN about wanting to protect women’s sports has resulted in demonstrations in cities where the team has played road games. Article content Article content Article content “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” she told ESPN in a profile published July 21. “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.” Article content NP Posted Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content The signs on display read, “With Love is Truth,” “Canadian women and girls thank you #8,” and “This lil’ beaver loves women’s sports,” showing a beaver caricature in a maple leaf T-shirt and holding a non-descript flag with three horizontal stripes. Article content It was the first Cunningham rally held outside the United States, according to Fox News. Supporters first gathered outside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on July 28, then in Portland on July 31, Minneapolis on Aug. 2 and Chicago on Aug. 8, where the Chicago Young Republicans and XX-XY Athletics organized a rally on Madison Street…