{"id":2681430,"date":"2026-10-11T14:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T18:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-writer-claims-combustible-sophie-cunningham-is-just-too-much-to-be-caitlin-clarks-teammate\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T14:25:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T18:25:33","slug":"nyt-writer-claims-combustible-sophie-cunningham-is-just-too-much-to-be-caitlin-clarks-teammate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-writer-claims-combustible-sophie-cunningham-is-just-too-much-to-be-caitlin-clarks-teammate\/","title":{"rendered":"NYT Writer Claims &#8216;Combustible&#8217; Sophie Cunningham Is &#8216;Just Too Much&#8217; to Be Caitlin Clark&#8217;s Teammate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnyt-writer-claims-combustible-sophie-cunningham-is-just-too-much-to-be-caitlin-clarks-teammate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2681430&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article highlights Sophie Cunningham, a player for the indiana Fever, known for both her athletic achievements adn her advocacy for women and girls. She has publicly opposed transgender males competing in women\u2019s sports, a stance that has drawn criticism from some left-leaning voices. Notably, Candace Buckner of The Athletic suggested that Cunningham should be removed from the team, describing her as too disruptive to team harmony, especially alongside star player Caitlin Clark. Buckner argued that Cunningham\u2019s conservative views on protecting girls in sports from transgender athletes have sparked controversy and upset progressive supporters. She also criticized the increased scrutiny from conservative factions, including social media memes and White House posts, wich she claims threaten the league\u2019s progressive image. Buckner metaphorically describes the league\u2019s evolution as a shift from a modest, inclusive community to a more complex, hostile environment due to recent high-profile players and cultural clashes. The article suggests that these <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >controversies reflect broader ideological tensions impacting women\u2019<\/a>s sports and the WNBA\u2019s cultural landscape.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever has drawn headlines not only for her record on the court, but also for her record of standing up for women and girls.<\/p>\n<p>She has used her platform to make clear that self<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nepo-baby-nazi-tattooed-dem-senate-candidate-decries-anti-semitism-claims-anti-trans-agenda-cooked-up-by-billionaires\/\" title=\"Nepo-Baby Nazi-Tattooed Dem Senate Candidate Decries &#039;Anti-Semitism,&#039; Claims &#039;Anti-Trans&#039; Agenda Cooked Up By &#039;Billionaires&#039;\">-proclaimed transgender males<\/a> should not be permitted to play against females in their sports leagues \u2014 drawing considerable ire from the left as a result.<\/p>\n<p>The most recent leftist to criticize the WNBA shooting guard for her moral courage was Candace Buckner, a writer for The Athletic \u2014 The New York Times\u2019 sports publication.<\/p>\n<p>Buckner declared in the headline of an Oct. 6 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7663983\/2026\/10\/06\/wnba-sophie-cunningham-indiana-fever-caitlin-clark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">piece<\/a> that the Fever should \u201cpart with Sophie Cunningham\u201d because \u201cshe\u2019s too turbulent to be paired with Caitlin Clark,\u201d the team\u2019s star point guard.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">From @TheAthletic: If the Indiana Fever ever wants to go back to being a basketball team, Sophie Cunningham has to go, our columnist writes. \u201cCunningham is too combustible, her takes too turbulent to be paired with Caitlin Clark.\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/X3eXkxlgDh<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The New York Times (@nytimes) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nytimes\/status\/2107466929451483489?\">October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the Fever ever want to go back to being a basketball team again and follow the lead of rivals openly clashing with the forces trying to hijack their league, then Cunningham has to go,\u201d Buckner asserted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCunningham is too combustible, her takes too turbulent to be paired with Caitlin Clark. On the same team, it\u2019s just too much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Buckner argued that Clark already attracts substantial controversy \u2014 some of which is based on her being white in a league historically dominated by black players.<\/p>\n<p>Such tensions have flared up amid clashes between Clark and her rival, Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream.<\/p>\n<p>The writer also bemoaned that when \u201cCunningham said something in an ESPN article about protecting girls in sports from transgender athletes,\u201d the statement \u201cnaturally set off alarms for the kind of audience that loves its culture wars served with a side of sport.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other words, Cunningham dared to state a conservative opinion, and conservatives reacted positively.<\/p>\n<p>Buckner said the conservative crowd then \u201cdiscovered all kinds of new and fun ways to disrupt the most profitable women\u2019s professional league, which is also powered by the LGBTQIA community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She even complained about the viral Cunningham pointing meme, particularly how it was adapted by the White House using a similar viral moment from President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"qme\">\ud83e\udd2b\ud83e\udef5 https:\/\/t.co\/REKi0zgdqt<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WhiteHouse\/status\/2072076444939723075?\">June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Such attention from the right side of the aisle apparently disrupted the relative peace enjoyed by the WNBA in their progressive echo chamber.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThink of the WNBA, the league, as a house. Once upon a time, it was a quaint little dwelling on the edge of town. It wasn\u2019t hidden at all, not with the rainbow flag billowing out front, but only a niche group knew where to find the place,\u201d Buckner described.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a blink, with Clark and Angel Reese entering the league, the home underwent massive renovations \u2014 like going from a bungalow with good bones to a high-rise condo in the middle of almost every metropolis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Buckner concluded that \u201cthe Fever need to reconsider who they let into their sacred home, including the players.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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