Stephen A. Smith has ripped into WNBA coach Cheryl Reeve in a scathing monologue after she wore a pro-trans t-shirt against Sophie Cunningham’s Indiana Fever.
On Sunday afternoon, Minnesota Lynx head coach Reeve sparked uproar after appearing on the sidelines with a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ shirt as her team took on the Fever, with outspoken star Cunningham lining up for the opposition.
Cunningham has been at the center of a bitter trans debate in recent weeks after comments she made to ESPN claiming that young girls ‘shouldn’t have to go against biological men’ when playing sports.
Reeve and Cunningham were seen having an amicable conversation prior to the game, before the Lynx coach later emerged wearing the pro-trans t-shirt.
That decision has led to outcry from a number of major sports personalities, including Smith who tore into the Minnesota head coach on his YouTube talk show.
In a 14-minute monologue on the matter, Smith said: ‘She was seen wearing a ‘Trans Kid Belong’ t-shirt. I’m going to repeat that. A ‘Trans Kid Belong’ t-shirt on Sunday during the game following the remarks from Sophie Cunningham.
Stephen A. Smith has ripped into WNBA coach Cheryl Reeve in a scathing monologue
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a ‘Trans Kids Belong’ t-shirt on the sidelines of her team’s clash against Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever on Sunday afternoon
‘And the thing that shocks me is, like, this is not a conversation about being anti-anything. This is a conversation about being pro-girls.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, at some point in time, there has to be the return of common sense. This is not about preaching hate. Nobody is supporting that.
‘This is not about looking at people who are trans and hating on them or wanting denied this them denied their civil rights and civil liberties.’
Speaking directly about Reeve, he continued: ‘You are Cheryl Reeve. The head coach of the Minnesota Lynx. That is an irresponsible thing to do.
‘You are a coach for a female basketball team. Do you not think that the females are being screwed over if they have to compete against an individual born as a male? What are you talking about?!
‘You trying to tell me that a college player, for the men’s, should transition to a woman and be allowed to play in the WNBA or on a collegiate level to a women’s college program? What the hell are you talking about!
‘Nobody said you can’t transition from male to female. The issue here is competing against the women! That’s what Sophie Cunningham is talking about.
‘How are you, Cheryl Reeve, coming out in that t-shirt. No regard for the WNBA. No regard for the sponsors that may be put off by that. How is that okay?!
Cunningham faced boos on Sunday in Minneapolis, where she also took an elbow to the face
Sophie Cunningham (left) and Cheryl Reeve (right) have pre-game discussion on Sunday
A person holds a sign after comments made by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham
‘This is bulls***. It’s selfishness. It’s putting yourself before the betterment of the whole [league].’
Prior to tip-off on Sunday, Cunningham and Reeve were seen having a serious discussion, which the Lynx head coach later touched upon after the win.
‘I think it’s great,’ Reeve said of the talk. ‘I think both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about wanting to, more than anything, educate. There are some things that we have in common, and maybe some things you differ on, just like any issues. I think it’s how you handle things. It was nice to be in person, for sure.’
Reeve stopped short of divulging their entire conversation in her post-game comments but did speak before the game about her stance on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
‘I come from a space of inclusion,’ said Reeve, who also serves as the Team USA coach. ‘The narrative that I think is problematic is to suggest that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women’s sports.
‘This is what’s bothersome. There is a faction of people in our country that are making this a massive issue.’
The tension on the sidelines carried over to the streets outside Target Center, where demonstrations turned chaotic ahead of tip-off in Minneapolis.
