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Sophie Cunningham takes different approach to teammates during national anthem
The Mirror ^ | August 23, 2026 | Charlie Wilson

Posted on 08/23/2026 8:09:02 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Sophie Cunningham appeared to be the only player who put her hand over her heart during the national anthem prior to the Indiana Fever's game against the New York Liberty on Saturday.

All other players on the Fever stood with their hands behind their backs, as multiple videos and images surfaced on social media, while the Liberty players remained in the locker room during the Star-Spangled Banner.

It is unclear why the Liberty players did not come out to the floor to honor the anthem, nor why Cunningham was the only player to put her hand over her heart. The WNBA headlines have been in recent weeks, as activists have demonstrated outside of games. It comes as an ex-NBA player attempting to join the WNBA outlined his plans to crash Cunningham's game.

Last month, Cunningham revealed her stance that only women-born athletes should play in the WNBA.

She said: "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, 'I never once said that.' I think that I am here to extend love.

(Excerpt) Read more at themirror.com ...


TOPICS: Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: tnba
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To: Enterprise
Assuming this article is accurate, it means that Caitlin Clark also stood with her hands behind her back. It does greatly diminish my admiration for her.

I agree with you.
However, these are just naive young women, trying to do amazing things. Their youth is MOST evident.

They will look back on these times...and who knows how they will feel.

I see VERY young women. They simply cannot be anything but that.

21 posted on 08/23/2026 8:38:55 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: cloudmountain
The Emirates are very small cities--hardly countries.

Dubai.

22 posted on 08/23/2026 8:43:25 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: milagro

“Ok, if these “fans” want to welcome “trans men” into the WNBA, let’s see how many of them would welcome “trans women” into the NFL.”

A “trans man” is a female who thinks she is a male. Just substitute “fake” for “trans” and you won’t confuse the two. I doubt a “trans man” would ever be recruited by any NFL team. One provides a distinct advantage to their team, the other is an unquestionable liability.


23 posted on 08/23/2026 8:47:11 AM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: MinorityRepublican

If I were to ever attend a WMBA game, it would be solely to see Sophie Cunningham. That said, it remains to be an ultra slim chance.


24 posted on 08/23/2026 8:49:10 AM PDT by albie
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To: MinorityRepublican

When we were younger in my home town, we stood respectfully for the anthem and only placed hand over heart for the pledge. I still don’t have a problem if someone does that. Maybe it’s different if the pledge isn’t said.


25 posted on 08/23/2026 9:02:37 AM PDT by NorthernDancer (“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”)
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To: cloudmountain
Clark has brought a colossal positive change in attendance and TV viewing to the WNBA. But if her fans start to believe that she is being disrespectful to the National Anthem, all the good will and positive benefits she has brought to herself and the WNBA can vanish very quickly. I agree that she is young and can be a bit naive, but this is something wiser and older people need to impress upon her.
26 posted on 08/23/2026 9:10:31 AM PDT by Enterprise (The homeless don't want housing. They want fentanyl and meth. - Spencer Pratt.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Clark never impressed me. I never was impressed with girls’ basketball.


27 posted on 08/23/2026 9:11:34 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Socialism is the same clown show that gave us out of control global illegal immigration.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I like her style and am grateful to her for representing normal Americans. What she is doing is very brave...to stand apart from the group and be willing to take the heat. Thankfully she’s got a lot of people on her side — the silent majority — and I’m sure she’s hearing from them and getting support from them.


28 posted on 08/23/2026 9:13:59 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Enterprise

Seems to be that Clark has been eclipsed by Sophie.


29 posted on 08/23/2026 9:14:10 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Bet she could make more modeling than playing bball.


30 posted on 08/23/2026 9:16:16 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: dfwgator
"Seems to be that Clark has been eclipsed by Sophie."

100%

31 posted on 08/23/2026 9:18:03 AM PDT by Enterprise (The homeless don't want housing. They want fentanyl and meth. - Spencer Pratt.)
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To: cloudmountain
The emirates are just about all out of petroleum and natural gas.

Just start fracking when the liquid oil stops flowing? Or do they already do that?

32 posted on 08/23/2026 9:26:39 AM PDT by Tellurian (Any cleverness from a DemonicRat is quickly invested in deception. Ds are world class deceivers.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

This is a non issue. I spent fourteen years photographing college sports. Sometimes three or four games in a day. Each game started with the Anthem. A vast majority of athletes don’t put their hands over their hearts. The only time I saw everyone do it was at Coast Guard, Norwich, and the Maritime schools (Mass and Maine).

This stuff is click/rage bait.


33 posted on 08/23/2026 9:46:54 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Vermont Lt
This is a non issue.

It stirs the pot, and that is the real issue.

34 posted on 08/23/2026 9:48:22 AM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

The wnba has always been a bunch of angry black lesbians they can’t stand the fact that white Roman came in and “took” their “sport” away from them


35 posted on 08/23/2026 9:49:21 AM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: MinorityRepublican

36 posted on 08/23/2026 9:51:36 AM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Two WNBA teams, and all spoiled brats without guts or honor, save one.


37 posted on 08/23/2026 9:54:56 AM PDT by econjack
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To: ClearCase_guy

<< It is unclear why the Liberty players did not come out to the floor to honor the anthem >>

From Google Gemini:

Standard Routine: Since 2020, it has become common practice for the Liberty and other WNBA teams to remain off the floor during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It began as a social justice and civil rights demonstration in 2020. This approach allows players with varying personal views to stay united as a team, avoiding individual actions from becoming a distraction


38 posted on 08/23/2026 9:56:38 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: ealgeone
"Bet she could make more modeling than playing bball."

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Ya think?


39 posted on 08/23/2026 10:10:35 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
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To: MinorityRepublican

Sadly, it extends beyond the WNBA. I have season tickets to my alma mater’s football and basketball games. Both football teams are still in their locker rooms for the anthem, which is played fairly early.

But both teams are on the floor before basketball games. With only one exception, no black players on either team puts their hand over their hearts during the anthem. One guy used to pull on his d*ck during the anthem (I sent an email to the coach and he stopped.) It’s a mixed bag with the white players.


40 posted on 08/23/2026 10:16:38 AM PDT by libertylover (The HBM (Has Been Media) is almost all AGENDA-DRIVEN and HATE-DRIVEN, not-truth driven)
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