Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham is receiving praise for defending women's sports, with young female athletes saying the WNBA standout's willingness to speak out has inspired them to continue advocating for fairness and safety in girls' athletics despite facing criticism themselves."I want to say a huge thank you to Sophie because it's really brave for her to stand up for young girls like Riley and I," said Ella Frei, a high school athlete from Wisconsin.Appearing Thursday on "Fox & Friends," Frei and Michigan high school volleyball player Briley Lechner joined guest host Kayleigh McEnany to discuss why Cunningham's comments resonated with them.SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DOUBLES DOWN AHEAD OF SUN GAME AFTER ESPN PROFILE STIRS CONTROVERSY: 'I SAID WHAT I SAID'Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham plays against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17.(Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)Frei told Fox News she was "ecstatic" to hear that the WNBA star had lent her voice to the cause, adding that she was encouraged to see an athlete with such a prominent platform speak out on a topic she believes many others have been reluctant to address.Cunningham, a guard for the Fever, stood firm in the face of criticism Wednesday after revealing her stance on the issue to ESPN."I said what I said.
I think it's kind of common sense," she said.SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM MANAGES TO ANGER BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH A SIMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POST'Save Girls Sports' activists at a rally in California on Saturday, May 9.(OutKick's Alejandro Avilla)"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...That's why you have Title IX.
That's why you have some of the greats in women's sports.If Title IX and women's sports weren't protected, then you wouldn't hear about any type of women in sports..."The message resonated with athletes like Frei and Lechner, who say the deba...