Demonstrations Outside Barclays Center

Rival demonstrations erupted outside the Barclays Center on Saturday before the New York Liberty's game against the Indiana Fever, as supporters of Fever star Sophie Cunningham's recent comments on transgender athletes in women's sports faced off against opponents. According to the New York Post, approximately 60 Cunningham supporters and more than 100 pro-trans rights supporters gathered near the arena and were separated by the NYPD and police barricades.

The rally in support of Cunningham was organized by Dr. Elizabeth Fedak, 35, a Liberty supporter and women's rights advocate. Fedak told the New York Post she was "happy with what Sophie did because I'm a women's rights advocate," adding: "It's very important to me that we be able to speak the truth about what a woman is and what our bodies are. I'm here standing for basic material reality, women's sports were created for women, and it needs to stay that way to ensure fairness."

Fedak also referenced the case of Payton McNabb, "where a male player threw a volleyball at her, at her back," saying: "The risk of injury for women is much higher when they're competing against men. So it is a safety issue as well."

On the opposing side, Vance Bostic, a 39-year-old candidate for New York District 8, came to support transgender athletes. Bostic told the New York Post that "all sports should be mixed with gender, 100%" and, when asked about injuries, admitted "it's a safety issue." Bostic also said he wants to replace Hakeem Jeffries.

Pro-trans supporters chanted "ban bigots, not trans women," "trans people belong in all sports," and "Liberty fans stand with trans kids," as reported by the New York Post.

Police Intervention and Escort

A confrontation outside the arena prompted police intervention, as described by Essentially Sports. In a video shared by New York Post Sports on X, a man was seen shouting at pro-transgender protesters and was subsequently approached by police, who escorted him away. As he was being led off, he repeatedly shouted, "I want to be in the WNBA," while the crowd chanted "Trans lives matter."

Separately, Fox News reported that pro-transgender counter-protesters refused an interview with Fox News Digital, crowding around the reporter with flags and signs in his face, placing a sticker on his back, and chanting "trans lives matter!" for nearly a minute. A photographer's glasses were taken off his head by the group and never returned, according to the photographer. Police escorted the Fox News Digital reporter out of the pro-trans crowd for his safety and said he did not do anything wrong. An ambassador for the pro-trans protesters said the group had agreed in advance not to do media interviews as a gesture of solidarity.

Scoreboard Message Dispute

The Liberty displayed at least three pro-transgender scoreboard messages during halftime of their 109-102 victory over the Fever, according to Fox News. The messages read: "Big welcome to the NY Liberty transgender fan community! So excited to be here with you all!!" "Welcome Trans Liberty fans! You are loved and you belong!" and "Hey trans fans! Glad you're here! Go Liberty!"

The messages appeared during the same halftime program in which Julie Potter, 48, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, expected her own paid scoreboard submission to run. Potter purchased 25 tickets costing more than $2,000 and paid an additional $100 for a custom message, which read "Thank you Jennifer Sey! XX-XY Athletics will Save the Day!!"

The Liberty accepted Potter's payment but notified her the day before the game that the message had been changed to "Thank you Jennifer Sey, thank you for all you do for XX-XY Athletics." Potter objected and asked the team to display her original submission or refund her, according to Fox News. The Liberty refunded the $100 on Friday.

The Liberty told Potter that scoreboard messages are limited to positive, celebratory content and that submissions violating that spirit are not eligible, as reported by Fox News. Potter called the change "censorship."

Context: The Broader Debate

The rallies outside Barclays Center were not new. Since Cunningham's comments during an ESPN profile released on July 21 surfaced, similar gatherings have taken place during several of the Fever's road games, including in Seattle, Minneapolis, and Portland, according to Essentially Sports. The rallies in Minneapolis and Chicago were significantly larger than those in Seattle and Portland, the outlet reported.

Cunningham's comments, as quoted by the New York Post, expressed a desire to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men." She later said she "never once said that" she hated trans people, according to the New York Post.

Jennifer Sey and XX-XY Athletics, an organization that has been a vocal supporter of Cunningham's stance, sponsored the rally outside Barclays Center, as reported by Essentially Sports.

Breanna Stewart, Liberty forward, commented on the rallies before the game, saying, per the Associated Press via Essentially Sports: "Knowing that rallies are happening on both sides shows the platform that the W has, and the stunts for attention are just continuing to try and ride the wave that we have. I want Liberty fans and even Indy fans that are going to come here tonight to be able to have this arena be a safe space."

Cunningham, who was focused on the game, told reporters before tip-off: "I'm focused on New York tonight," as reported by the New York Post.

The WNBA's eligibility rules for transgender athletes remain unclear, and the league has not made a decision, according to a statement to ESPN on Aug. 12. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have declared themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft, as reported by the New York Post.

Fox News also noted that WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert criticized people she said are trying to sow divisiveness in the league amid the debate.