VP JD Vance backs Sophie Cunningham on trans athlete stance

Vice President JD Vance has publicly endorsed Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham for her stance on transgender athletes in women's sports, urging her to continue speaking out despite criticism. Vance made the comments during an interview on August 5, praising Cunningham's courage and stating that her voice inspires others.

Cunningham, 29, has repeatedly asserted her belief in protecting women's sports from what she describes as competition from "biological men." Her comments, first made in a recent ESPN profile, have thrust her and the WNBA into a heated national debate. In that interview, Cunningham said she wanted to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men." She later characterized her position as "common sense."

Vance, addressing the controversy, encouraged Cunningham to persist. "Sometimes when you're courageous in this country, some of the worst people in the world will try to attack you," Vance said. "What I would tell Sophie and anybody is to keep speaking your mind. You actually are inspiring a dozen people for every person that criticizes you." He added that courage is "contagious" and necessary...