Danica Patrick’s trans comments before Sophie | Sports News

Danica Patrick was already in settlement with Sophie Cunningham about trans athletes competing in ladies’s sports activities long before the Indiana Fever star stepped into the Gauntlet of Fire over the longstanding debate. Cunningham, 29, sparked a firestorm final month when she claimed she needs to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

The comments fueled a visceral response in some. Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended and fined by the WNBA for a heated exchange with two teenage women who had been supportive of Fever star Cunningham during a match between the 2 groups. Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeves additionally wore a t-shirt supporting trans people during her staff’s match in opposition to Cunningham and Co.

Patrick, 44, who was a feminine trailblazer in motorsport, used to battle in opposition to males on a weekly foundation — however is in opposition to trans athletes competing in ladies’s sports activities, the place biology might play a a lot larger issue. “There’s a very big difference in biology between a man and a woman, when we’re looking at peak and pure potential of strength,” Patrick instructed NewsNation.

“It’s not in the biological cards for a woman. A man is always going to have more strength. Testosterone is generally 10 times higher in men than women. So, it just doesn’t make it fair.”

Patrick has beforehand argued that people ought to have the liberty to “live their own lives,” however mentioned there are limits when these decisions have an effect on others.

She added: “But when it intrudes on someone else’s ability to live the life that they want or has a dramatic influence in the kind of life that is lived, it just has to be addressed.”

Patrick and Cunningham would agree that the trans athlete debate is a “common sense” difficulty. “I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham instructed reporters.

“And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”

Cunningham has now reiterated her need to refocus on the Fever’s 2026 WNBA marketing campaign. “I’m going to let people just do the speaking for themselves, but for me, I want to get back to basketball,” Cunningham mentioned.

“It’s always been about basketball. That interview happened in [March]. I just want to make sure that the focus stays where it should because people are playing at such a high level.”