Indiana Fever blocks Caitlin Clark from postgame media

The Indiana Fever secured a 112-98 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday, July 31, but the game was overshadowed by the franchise's decision to shield star guard Caitlin Clark from postgame media duties amid a controversy surrounding teammate Sophie Cunningham's comments on transgender athletes. The incident occurred at the Moda Center in Portland, where Clark recorded a triple-double.

The Fever's move came after Cunningham's recent public remarks opposing the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports, which have drawn criticism and sparked a national debate. Ahead of Friday's game, a "Save Women's Sports" rally was held outside the arena in support of Cunningham, mirroring a similar demonstration earlier in the week. Some Portland fans, expressing frustration with Cunningham's stance, had also planned to show support for the transgender community, with the Fire's social media encouraging attendees to wear black.

Fever head coach Stephanie White addressed the broader topic on Friday, stating that exclusion is never the answer. The organization itself had previously distanced itself from the pro-Cunningham rally, stating neither the team nor Cunningham had any knowledge...