REDDIT BANS SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM'S NAME FROM WNBA SUBREDDIT

The official WNBA subreddit banned Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's name on 16 August, according to reports citing Fox News. A moderator of the subreddit confirmed the filter, stating that posts about Cunningham invite controversial discussion and tend to attract users intent on disruption. Users who question the decision may face account suspension, the reports indicate.

Cunningham's name became a contested topic following comments she made in a July ESPN profile regarding transgender athletes in women's sports. She stated that young women competing in sports should be protected from sharing locker rooms with biological men. Those comments divided the WNBA community and prompted rallies both supporting and opposing her outside Indiana Fever away games. Cunningham, a guard for the Fever and the team's fourth-highest scorer, was drafted by Phoenix Mercury in 2019 and traded to Indiana in 2025.

The timing of the Reddit ban coincided with Cunningham's 30th birthday on 16 August. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced intentions to declare for the 2027 WNBA draft, each stating they identify as women. The subreddit's decision reflects ongoing debate within professional basketball regarding league eligibility criteria and athlete participation rules.