An Indiana Fever postgame press conference came to an abrupt end when a reporter attempted to ask about teammate Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments defending women’s sports.
The team’s PR director immediately cut off the session, sending players and the coach fleeing the podium.
Following the Fever’s win over the Portland Fire on Friday night, an Outkick reporter began a question with the words “Speaking of outside noise, Sophie came out with—”
PR director Jackie Maynard immediately interjected and declared, “We’re going to wrap up there.”
Players Aliyah Boston and Makayla Timpson quickly jumped out of their seats and left the room.
Boston offered a brief “Thank you. Have a good day,” while coach Stephanie White briefly stared at papers before following them out.
WATCH:
The Indiana Fever shut down a question about Sophie Cunningham’s comments on women’s sports before abruptly ending a postgame press conference.
After Aliyah Boston answered a separate question, an OutKick reporter attempted to ask Boston about Cunningham’s recent remarks on… pic.twitter.com/M80LLCn9jZ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 2, 2026
The entire exchange was later edited out of the Fever’s official YouTube upload of the press conference.
The reporter was clearly attempting to address Cunningham’s interview with ESPN in which she stated she does not believe biological males should compete in women’s sports.
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that,’” Cunningham said at the time. “I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
Cunningham later stood by her position despite backlash from some players, fans, and media.
Earlier on Friday, coach Stephanie White had told reporters she was not “educated enough” to comment fully on the issue of transgender athletes but added, “I don’t ever believe that exclusion is an answer.”
(VIDEO) Sophie Cunningham’s Ridiculous Coach Asked if Male Athletes Should Be Allowed in the WNBA – Says She’s “Not Educated Enough” and “Exclusion” is Not an Answer
Star guard Caitlin Clark did not speak to the media after scoring a triple-double in the same game.
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