Megan Rapinoe slams transgender athlete debate on debut podcast episode

Former US women's national team winger Megan Rapinoe used the opening of her inaugural "Why Are You Like This?" podcast to launch a blistering attack on the discourse surrounding transgender athletes. She referenced Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's July 21 one outlet's profile, which reignited debate after Cunningham opposed transgender participation in women's sports.

While acknowledging Cunningham's claimed support for trans people and Title IX, Rapinoe argued that the prevailing narrative falsely frames the issue as protecting girls from men, vilifying trans girls and jeopardizing youth sports. She suggested that effective policies already exist for elite competition and warned that current proposals would exclude children from play. The commentary arrives as WNBA players and coaches, including Caitlin Clark and Cheryl Reeve, and tennis stars Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka, have been pressed for their views.