What to know
- The Toronto Tempo lost 101-95 to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham facing loud boos from the Toronto crowd throughout the game, especially during free throws.
- The boos came weeks after Cunningham told ESPN she wanted to “protect young girls” from competing against what she called “biological men,” comments that drew significant criticism online.
- Cunningham responded positively to the crowd, calling the Tempo fans “amazing” and saying boos and cheers are simply part of playing sports.
- Fans were divided online, with some defending the boos and criticizing Cunningham’s comments, while others said booing is normal in sports and praised her composure; the Tempo now head to Washington to face the Mystics on Wednesday.
The Toronto Tempo’s matchup against the Indiana Fever came with plenty of noise Tuesday night, with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham hearing most of the boos than others did on the court.
From check-in to game time, the Indiana Fever guard was booed consistently throughout the night by the Toronto crowd, and the boos weren’t only due to the fact that the Indiana Fever clinched the win against the Toronto Tempo, going 101 to 95.
The loud opposition followed comments Cunningham made in a July 2026 ESPN interview, where she said she wanted to “protect young girls.”
“I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men,” Cunningham told ESPN.
Since then, the Indiana Fever guard has received significant backlash on social media, with many calling her remarks transphobic.
During Tuesday night’s game, Cunningham was challenged when trying to focus on the net, as the boos intensified while Cunningham was at the free-throw line.
Despite the negative reaction, Cunningham told reporters the crowd was amazing.
“I want to shout out the Tempo crowd in the city,” she said. “…the crowd was absolutely amazing… just the fact that they’re so passionate, they’re loud, and they’re putting on for the city, I think it’s amazing.”
Cunningham added that the boos are all part of the job.
“I think that’s what sports are all about; you’re gonna get boos, you’re gonna get cheers,” she said.
Fan reaction
Following the intense game, fans of both teams took to social media, noting both the boos and Cunningham’s response.
“Well deserved,” one X user wrote in response to the boos.
Another X user said Cunningham brought the attention to herself.
“Not one single man currently plays in the WNBA, so why manufacture a controversy about something that does not affect the sport?” they wrote. “This rhetoric fuels transphobia and often harms women who look different or do not fit stereotypical ideas of femininity.”
Some fans online said the boos weren’t specific to Cunningham.
“Anyone shooting from the line gets booed,” one X user said.
Another agreed, adding that booing is a normal occurrence for athletes to face.
“Getting booed by the opposing team is generally considered a strong compliment. Especially if the opponent is a foreign nation,” another X user said.
Aside from the boos, many fans pointed out how gracefully Cunningham responded about the situation.
“I love Sophie Cunningham’s positivity,” one X user wrote. “No one was getting booed at WNBA games three years ago because the crowds weren’t there. This shows the growth of the league.”
“Sophie Cunningham handled it exactly right,” another X user wrote. “Boos come with the spotlight, especially on the road. You do not need the crowd’s approval—you need to stay composed, compete, and let the game give them something to talk about.”
Toronto Tempo packs up their gear and heads south to Washington for Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Mystics.
