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    “Why there are no Trans coaches”, “0.0002% of athletes are threat” – WNBA Fans React To Stephen A.Smith’s No-Nonsense Take On Trans Athlete Discourse

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    Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith commented on the ongoing debate about transgender participation in girls and women’s sports.

    In a tweet on Tuesday, Smith said people could stand up for fairness while also supporting the exclusion of trans athletes from women’s sports. The ESPN analyst also called out Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who most notably wore a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt during Sunday’s game.

    “I’m not backing down from this one,” Smith wrote. “You can support people’s rights AND believe biological men shouldn’t compete in women’s sports. Those two things are not mutually exclusive. My issue isn’t hate.

    “It’s protecting women, protecting girls, and asking why a WNBA coach chose to inject herself into a controversy that could hurt the very league she’s supposed to represent. Common sense still matters. That’s where I stand.”

    Many fans agreed with Smith’s take on the issue, while others slammed Reeve.

    “Ask these intolerant coaches why there are no trans coaches. I’m (sure) they would welcome them with open arms😕,” one fan tweeted.

    Ask these intolerant coaches why there are no Trans coaches. I’m they would welcome them with open arms😕

    “The 0.0002% of athletes are a threat,” another fan wrote.

    The 0.0002% of athletes are a threat

    Here are other reactions:

    @stephenasmith You shouldn’t back down from it. This is something that roughly 80% of Americans believe and agree with. The 20% are just loud and have never played (or had sisters who played) competitive athletics growing up.

    @stephenasmith Exactly. No one is saying you can’t be a man that identifies as a woman. You just can’t then compete in women’s sports. Just like a 250 lb man can’t box in the lightweight division. The divisions are basic common sense.

    @stephenasmith What sucks about this whole thing is it shouldn’t even be an issue. Shouldn’t even be discussed.

    @stephenasmith And there’s a video of that coach complaining about men taking coaching jobs from women in the WNBA. You can’t make this stuff up.

    The discourse around the trans athletes started when Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham expressed support for the “safety of young girls in sport.”

    Smith agreed with Cunningham’s statement that biological men should not participate in any level of women’s sports.

    Stephen A. Smith blasts Cheryl Reeve for backing trans athletes

    In an episode of his show on Tuesday, Stephen A. Smith discussed Sunday’s game between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx. The game at Target Center in Minneapolis featured Fever star Sophie Cunningham and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who hold opposing views on the transgender athletes debate.

    “This is not about anti-anything,” Smith said (Timestamp: 4:45). “This is about being pro-girls, pro-females, pro-women, pro-ladies. … You are Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Minnesota Lynx. That is an irresponsible thing to do. You are a coach for a female basketball team.

    “Do you not think that the females are being screwed over if they have to compete against an individual born as a male? … The issue here is competing against women, that’s what Sophie Cunningham was talking about. How (could) coach Cheryl Reeve condone that? …

    “This is the bulls**t. It’s the selfishness. It’s putting yourself before the betterment of the whole.”

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    The trans discourse had also drawn protesters and counterprotesters of Cunningham’s comments in the Fever’s last three games. Outside Target Center on Sunday, Minneapolis police said about 60 people in total gathered to voice their views. Indiana’s games in Seattle and Portland also attracted demonstrations.