Sydney Colson, a two-time WNBA champion, just absolutely went off on her former Indiana Fever teammate, Sophie Cunningham, ripping her for controversial remarks about transgender women in sports. This isn’t just some low-key drama, either; Colson’s words, delivered on her podcast, hit like a sledgehammer and are reverberating through the entire league.
Colson Didn’t Hold Back, And We Mean *Not* One Bit
Colson held nothing back, slamming what she called “harmful” opinions. She didn’t mince words on her podcast, directly addressing “the white players in the league” who “don’t say s—” or worse, “say things that are harmful, talking about the trans s—.” Colson’s message was blunt: “Shut the f— up, shut the f— up. Nobody wants to hear your opinion.”
She acknowledged the “freedom of speech” argument, sure, but quickly pivoted to the real human impact. “People are just trying to get by when they’re dealing with you,” Colson said. And then the kicker, the line that’s got everyone talking: “You ought to be ashamed, y’all ought to be ashamed to act like you’re cool with people, to act like you care about sisterhood, all of these things.” Colson, who played 30 games for the Fever in 2025, made it clear she sees a massive disconnect there.
Cunningham Stands Her Ground, But At What Cost?
Cunningham, for her part, has consistently defended her views. Earlier this season, she stated her desire to “protect young girls in the locker room,” adding that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” She doesn’t see herself as an activist, but she sure isn’t backing down. “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham explained. “And 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. I stand on what I said.”
Even after Indiana’s playoff elimination to the Las Vegas Aces, Cunningham doubled down, showing up to a Florida vs. Missouri football game wearing a hat that boldly read “No Cis, Just… Woman.” She did push back on accusations, saying, “I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans and I’m like, I never once said that.” This whole situation comes as Cunningham is an unrestricted free agent. Her one-year, $665,000 contract with the Fever expired after their first-round playoff loss. Cunningham had spent the last two seasons with the Fever after six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury.
The WNBPA Has Already Spoken On This
It’s crucial to remember that the WNBA Players’ Association already weighed in on this kind of debate in August. Their statement was crystal clear: they believe in diversity and inclusion, and they are not here to be “political pawns.” The WNBPA represents over 200 players with incredibly diverse experiences and opinions, but they stand united on “justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.” They explicitly stated, “Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division, and harm.”
The WNBPA’s strong stance and Colson’s fiery remarks make it clear this isn’t just a sideline conversation. With Cunningham now a free agent, her comments and this backlash are absolutely going to be part of the story as she looks for her next move in the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply