印第安纳费弗队后卫索菲·坎宁汉在ESPN发表文章支持禁止变性女性参加女性体育项目，这一立场在篮球界引起广泛分歧[1]。周日费弗对阵明尼苏达山猫队的比赛中，支持者和反对者在明尼阿波利斯的Target Center周围举行集会，现场示威者用扩音器反复高喊"保护变性女性"，并举着写有"爱是真理"和"感谢索菲"等标语的牌子[1]。这是坎宁汉的立场公开后，费弗连续第三场比赛面临的抗议活动[1]。
山猫队主教练谢丽尔·里夫穿着印有"变性儿童属于这里"字样的蓝色T恤执教，以此表达对变性群体的支持[1]。比赛开始前，坎宁汉和里夫在球场中线进行了交流[1]。坎宁汉在周五波特兰的采访中表示对集会活动并不感到担忧，她说："我认为真正了解我的人都知道我充满爱心"[1]。
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham sparked controversy after expressing support in an ESPN article for banning transgender women from competing in women's sports [1]. Her position prompted demonstrations at Sunday's matchup between the Fever and Minnesota Lynx at Target Center in Minneapolis, where supporters and opponents gathered outside the venue [1]. This marked the third consecutive Fever game to draw rallies over the issue [1].
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made a visible statement by wearing a blue shirt reading "Trans kids belong" while coaching [1]. Before the game, Cunningham and Reeve spoke at center court [1]. Outside, protesters used loudspeakers to repeatedly call out "Protect trans women," while signs displayed messages including "Love is truth" and "Thank you Sophie" [1].
When asked about the demonstrations in Portland on Friday, Cunningham expressed confidence in her position, saying "I think everyone who knows me personally, they know that I'm full of love" [1].