Local
Texas group backs Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes
Summary by The Dallas Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Candace Sweat , NBC5 DFW
· August 20, 2026
· 2 min read
Fans showed up at the American Airlines Center excited for the battle between the Dallas Wings’ Paige Buckers and Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham. It wasn’t just the game in the spotlight, though. Cunningham has been taking some heat over her comments about transgender women in sports. Outside ...
Key takeaway They don’t belong there,” said Cindi Castilla with the Texas Eagle Forum.
Why this matters in The Dallas
The controversy surrounding Sophie Cunningham's comments on transgender athletes has brought attention to the lack of clear policies in the WNBA regarding gender identity and sex assigned at birth. As the Dallas Wings are part of the local sports scene, this debate has direct relevance to the city's athletic community. The fact that there are currently no transgender women playing in the WNBA raises questions about the timing and motivation behind Cunningham's statements. The response from the league, denouncing bad-faith efforts to demean or marginalize others, suggests a need for more nuanced and informed discussion. In Dallas, where the Wings have a significant following, fans and residents may be watching to see how the team and the league navigate this complex issue, and whether they will establish clearer guidelines for transgender athlete participation. The local organization Texas Values has already weighed in, and other community groups may soon follow.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC5 DFW . The Dallas selects stories from publishers’ feeds, summarises them, and links back to the publisher that reported them. We add no reporting of our own. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC5 DFW . Have a tip or correction? Contact the editor .
Category: Local ·
Published: August 20, 2026 ·
Source: NBC5 DFW ·
Reading time: 2 min
Get more The Dallas stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering Local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Fans showed up at the American Airlines Center excited for the battle between the Dallas Wings’ Paige Buckers and Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham. It wasn’t just the game in the spotlight, though. Cunningham has been taking some heat over her comments about transgender women in sports. Outside ...
When was this published? This article was first published on August 20, 2026 by NBC5 DFW and curated for The Dallas readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Candace Sweat at NBC5 DFW. To learn more about how The Dallas selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more Local coverage from The Dallas, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More Local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter