Sophie Cunningham’s WNBA comments spark dueling protests in Brooklyn
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham’s bold calls for leadership change lead to competing protests outside the Brooklyn game. Tomi Lahren and the panel analyze the growing controversy surrounding commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Activists and women’s sports supporters square off over transgender participation in female sports.
‘Nightcaps’ is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.
Listen … Just listen.
You hear it? You smell it? Really listen closely …
It’s officially college football week. We’ve made it. It’s our first real game week since January. Really, it’s our first one since December. I don’t want to hear a single word about “It’s only Week Zero!”
UNC WANTED THE DEION SANDERS EFFECT WITH BILL BELICHICK, ALONG WITH WINS. IT GOT SOMETHING MUCH DIFFERENT
Hogwash. Last I checked, we’re getting a noon ESPN game featuring Bill Belichick on Saturday. That ain’t Week 0. That’s football.
We’re back. We’ve made it. Last Saturday was our last Saturday without college football until 2027. Time to lock it in, boys and girls. Move over, WNBA, the real #content machine is back …
… But first, welcome to a Monday Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham stuns in a backless halter top and then surpasses Caitlin Clark in social media followers.
What a day! Oh yeah. Something else happened in the WNBA last night. Honestly, I just don’t feel like getting into it today. I’m tired. It’s football season. I’m gonna sit this one out (sort of).
What else? I’ve got Trump angering the left by waving the green flag along the streets of D.C., Deshaun Watson somehow survived his asinine postgame presser to become the Browns’ starter today (sorry, Cleveland fans), and Jon Gruden was BACK in the booth over the weekend.
And buddy, he was incredible. Here’s an idea, CBS: Maybe pair him with Jim Nantz. Just a thought.
OK, let’s get rolling. I’ve inexplicably got a fantasy football draft tonight even though it’s Aug. 24. Unreal.
Grab you a waffle for National Waffle Day, and settle in for a Monday ‘Cap!
Sophie Cunningham tunes out the noise and takes a big step
Big day in the world of fast food, or whatever it is you consider Chick-fil-A. Is it fast food? It’s a step above, for sure, but I don’t know what I’d call it.
Anyway, they’re rolling out their big Chicken & Waffles AND S’mores Milkshake today to coincide with National Waffle Day. Gives me a stomach ache just thinking about it, but I reckon it’ll be good. Lord knows it’ll be an absolute pleasure ordering it.
I maintain that there is no better food service business on the planet than Chick-fil-A. They are just incredible.
Anyway, let me know if you pop on over to one today and try it out. I don’t see myself indulging any time soon given it’s 110 degrees in Florida right now and Chicken & Waffles sounds just horrible, but I’m curious to hear your thoughts.
OK, now that the important stuff is out of the way, let’s get this class started with Sophie Cunningham going with the backless top on social media before last night’s game, and then surpassing Caitlin Clark in a big way when the dust settled:
Screenshot of Sophie Cunningham’s Instagram account surpassing 4 million followers. (Screenshot)
Trump’s green flag wave was a talker
That number says 4 million, folks. Why is that big? It now puts Sophie in second place in terms of follower count in all of the WNBA, ahead of Caitlin Clark.
Angel Reese is No. 1, for those wondering. She has over 5 million. Fair is fair, and I have to be fair to Angel here. The data says she’s still No. 1. Kudos to her.
Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever compete in the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star weekend at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 18, 2025. (Getty Images)
As for Sophie Cunningham, it’s pretty clear she’s a rocket ship right now in terms of popularity. The minority hates her, but don’t be fooled, they are the minority. The data says she’s a few months away from taking over the top spot in the WNBA. It’s only a matter of time.
And when that happens, we can really start to laugh at people like this:
“The moment the league didn’t discipline Sophie Cunningham for her transphobic comments, they set the table for almost all of this political discourse and nastiness towards the trans community. Her conduct has objectively been detrimental to the league.”
That’s a real person, by the way. Chris Williamson is an “Emmy-nominated” sportscaster, per his X bio (which also features a picture of Angel Reese as the header).
Hilarious.
Again, let’s quickly go back and see what those “transphobic” comments were in the original ESPN story:
Indiana Fever superstars Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark are arguably the two most popular players in the WNBA. (NBAE via Getty Images)
“I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, ‘I never once said that.’ I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
That’s it! Those are the transphobic comments! These people are the best. They’re just the best. I can’t get enough.
Speaking of delusional liberals, let’s check in with Adam Schiff, who had a meltdown yesterday because Donald Trump waved the green flag for the IndyCar race in DC:
Deshaun, Gruden, and Browns memes
“While you struggle with the cost of gas, Trump offers you the spectacle of an IndyCar race hoping you will not notice,” Shifty Schiff posted on Elon’s X. “More taxpayer money spent on his self-aggrandizing distractions. And you get higher taxes and higher costs.”
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Hey, Shifty, cool it. Can we just enjoy some Freedom 250 racing action in peace, pal? It’s a Sunday. We don’t need to be serious every single day of the week. It’s OK to give it a rest on a Sunday.
Looking at you, WNBA.
OK, let’s rapid-fire this Monday class into a big Monday night of drafting an auction draft that I am 0% prepared for because it was sprung on me last night. Should end well!
First up? How about the NUTS on the Browns declaring Deshaun Watson QB1 after he took a blowtorch to the fanbase over the weekend?
That last one is the thing that really sticks out to me. Deshaun Watson isn’t a good QB anymore. It’s been YEARS since he was actually good at football. Years. And I was a huge Watson guy out of college.
But he’s just genuinely bad at football now. Mix in just some ridiculous shots at a fanbase that has every single right in the world to despise him, and it’s bonkers to me that they’d still name his the starter for Week 1.
Granted, Shedeur Sanders is no better at football, but at least he’d buy you a little grace with the fans.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looks to pass during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 22, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
I feel bad for old OutKick (and Nightcaps!) writer, Anthony Farris. I still talk to Anthony every day. He’s hanging in there.
And by that, I mean he’s miserable.
Next? You know who isn’t miserable? Jon Gruden. How great was it to have Gruden back in the booth this weekend?
Nobody could break down a play better than Gruden back in the old MNF days. He was elite. One of one. Clearly, he still has the fastball. Lordy, I missed him.
Hey, CBS — I found your Romo replacement. Easiest call in the history of time.
You’re welcome!
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Now, let’s go have a big week.
Is Week 0 the real start of the season? Email me at [email protected].
