Riley Gaines praised WNBA star Sophie Cunningham on Friday, calling her a rare voice of courage for speaking out against biological men competing in women's sports despite competing in what Gaines called the "most woke league of all time."Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and host of "The Riley Gaines Show," applauded Cunningham's refusal to back down on protecting female locker rooms and called her the "first current high-level female athlete" in a professional league to take such a stance."It's easy to say that men aren't women and men shouldn't play in women's sports.I'm here to tell you, if you're in Sophie Cunningham's position, it's not easy to say that.
It's incredibly difficult.It requires immense courage," Gaines said."If you're Sophie Cunningham playing in the WNBA, which is like the most woke league of all time in the history of ever, it takes immense courage to say exactly what she did.
And it makes her really the first current high-level female athlete playing in a professional league that has said this."SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DOUBLES DOWN AHEAD OF SUN GAME AFTER ESPN PROFILE STIRS CONTROVERSY: 'I SAID WHAT I SAID'Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham plays in the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 27, 2026.(Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)Earlier this week, Cunningham revealed her stance on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, telling ESPN, "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans.
And I'm like, 'I never once said that.'""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 sports who shouldn't have to go against biological men," Cunningham said.SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SENDS MESSAGE TO HER HATERS AFTER SAYING MEN DON'T BELONG IN WOMEN'S SPORTSSince her comments surfaced, Cunningham has received support online from various Republican lawmakers and advocates for wo...