Brianna Turner knew the backlash was coming.
The Las Vegas Aces forward still used her platform to defend transgender people after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham questioned trans participation in women’s sports.
Turner argued that transgender athletes have become a political target. Meanwhile, she said sexism, racism, homophobia and workplace harassment deserve greater attention.
“I would much rather the hate come my way instead of the trans community,” Turner wrote on X.
Turner answers Cunningham
Cunningham said during an ESPN interview that she wanted to protect young girls who “shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
She described her position as a defense of women’s sports, not an expression of hatred toward transgender people.
Turner challenged the scale of the concern.
“A tiny minority of the population identifies as trans, yet they are always a trending topic unfortunately,” Turner wrote. “I’m in my eighth season as a WNBA player. To date there’s been one out trans player in the league. They caused zero problems.”
Turner was referring to former WNBA player Layshia Clarendon, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary.
Reliable national data on transgender sports participation remains limited. No comprehensive count shows how many transgender athletes currently compete or in which categories.
That makes sweeping claims difficult to test. Turner’s argument focused on her league experience and the gap between the attention surrounding the issue and its limited presence in the WNBA.
A wider climate of abuse
Turner’s comments arrived during a broader reckoning over abuse directed at WNBA players.
Chelsea Gray recently shared a racist message sent after an Aces game. Alyssa Thomas also said she and her family received racial slurs and death threats after an incident involving Caitlin Clark.
The WNBA and WNBPA met this week over what they called an increase in racist, hateful and abusive messages targeting players.
Both sides pledged stronger communication, earlier intervention and enhanced security resources. However, they did not announce a timeline, formal reporting system or detailed enforcement plan.
Turner knew speaking publicly could expose her to the same online hostility the league and union had just discussed.
Advocacy is not new
Turner’s position did not begin with Cunningham’s interview.
During the current discussion, Turner resurfaced a May 2024 post in which she called herself a “vocal ally” of the trans community. She told followers who objected that they could mute or block her.
Turner also reposted a November 2025 statement arguing that trans inclusion had been turned into political “rage bait” targeting a small number of athletes.
“The debate is harmful to cis and trans women athletes alike,” she wrote at the time.
Those older posts establish a clear timeline. Turner did not adopt this position because Cunningham’s comments became news. She has expressed it publicly for years.
Turner also criticized the broader WNBA conversation online. She said false narratives are often accepted as truth and accused some outlets of operating as disinformation campaigns.
She did not identify a specific report in that post. Therefore, it should not be treated as a direct accusation against Cunningham or one particular news organization.
A message beyond basketball
Turner’s most direct comments addressed transgender people themselves.
“To any trans kids or adults reading this I promise your life matters,” she wrote. “I promise there’s people in this country that want to see you reach old age and live your truth.”
She recommended the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Campaign to people seeking more information.
Turner said she expected right-wing accounts to attack her. Still, she wrote that speaking out was worth the response.
The WNBA has long featured players willing to address social issues. Turner made clear she views that responsibility as larger than basketball.
Turner raises Fever allegation
Turner also raised a separate allegation about her former team.
She claimed Indiana fired a male staff member over sexual harassment during her 2025 season with the Fever. Turner also alleged that players were encouraged not to discuss the matter publicly.
The Fever did not confirm her account in full.
“Protecting our players and employees and maintaining a respectful, professional workplace is our top priority,” the organization said.
Indiana said it takes concerns seriously, investigates them and acts when appropriate. The team also said it does not discuss personnel matters involving former employees.
Turner’s full account has not been independently verified. Still, her comparison was clear.
She argued that transgender athletes are regularly portrayed as a major threat to women’s sports. Meanwhile, misconduct inside sports organizations can receive less attention.
“That is an issue,” Turner wrote. “Sexism, misogyny, homophobia and racism are all issues.”
Reeve joins discussion
Turner also amplified comments from Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who criticized political attacks on transgender people.
“Exclusion is never the answer,” Reeve said. “Separate isn’t equal. And trans lives matter.”
Turner called the comments “beautifully said.”
Her posts will not settle the debate. They may increase the criticism aimed at her.
But Turner was not entering a new argument or chasing a trending topic. She was restating a position she has held publicly for years.
Then she made sure transgender people at the center of the debate heard something else.
They are not alone.
Related stories
WNBA, players union address abusive messages targeting players
Racist message to Chelsea Gray exposes WNBA’s online problem
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
