ESPN's Stephen A Smith says Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve hurt WNBA with trans shirt controversy

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve found herself right in Smith's crosshairs after wearing a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt on the bench, and Stephen A.tore into her activist grandstanding.Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reacts in the second half against the Indiana Fever at Target Center on Sunday, Aug.

2, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn.(Star Tribune via Getty Images)Reeve chose to wear the shirt during her first matchup against Sophie Cunningham since the Fever guard publicly defended women-only competition.CHERYL REEVE SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM WITH ‘TRANS KIDS BELONG’ SHIRT DURING FEVER-LYNX GAMEOne side sparked outrage over the "erasure" of trans rights; the other contended that preserving parity and safety in competition matters more than inclusion.Reeve made sure her message landed on one of the WNBA's biggest regular-season stages.

But Smith wasn't buying the coincidence.Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on against the Indiana Fever in the first quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug.2, 2026.

(Getty Images)"And then you're going to come out with a T-shirt.No regard for the WNBA.

No regard for the sponsors that may be put off by that.No regard for the bottom line that might be affected," Smith blasted.WNBA SUDDENLY WANTS TO STICK TO BASKETBALL AFTER YEARS OF MAKING POLITICS PART OF THE PRODUCT"It's just an accidental coincidence that that's the game you chose to wear that? Oh, THIS IS THE B.S.! IT'S THE SELFISHNESS! IT'S PUTTING YOURSELF BEFORE THE BETTERMENT OF THE WHOLE!"Even Smith has reached the point where he's willing to say what everyday fans have been shouting for years: a women's basketball coach refusing to defend women's sports is flat-out absurd."You are Cheryl Reeve, the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx.

That is an irresponsible thing to do," Smith said."You are a coach for a female basketball team.

Do you not think that females are being screwed over if they have to compete against an indiv...