Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham expressed a desire to shift the focus back to basketball, stating, "I want to get back to basketball." This comes after her comments on transgender athletes in women's sports ignited a national debate, rallies, and significant social media attention.

Cunningham described the ensuing attention as a "distraction," highlighting the "high level" of play in the WNBA and the team's recent success. The Fever have won five of their last six games, leading the league in points per game and offensive rating, with key players like Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark performing exceptionally well. Cunningham criticized the media's tendency to cover issues other than the game itself.

Her prior remarks in an ESPN article discussed "protecting women's sports," a stance often associated with restricting transgender participation. She clarified that she does not hate transgender individuals but believes in extending love with honesty, aiming to protect young girls in sports. Several WNBA coaches and players, including Stefanie Dolson, have voiced support for more inclusive policies regarding transgender athletes. Protests and counter-protests have occurred at Fever games, with Cunningham stating she embraces the competitive environment. The team is preparing for their upcoming game against the Las Vegas Aces.